Modular Wireless Power Transmitters for Powering Multiple Devices

ABSTRACT

A modular wireless power transfer system includes a first wireless transmission system and one or more secondary wireless transmission systems. The first wireless transmission system is configured to receive input power from an input power source, generate AC wireless signals, and couple with one or more other antennas. Each of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems includes a secondary transmission antenna, the secondary transmission antenna configured to couple with one or more of another secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna, one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof. The one or more secondary wireless transmission systems are configured to receive the AC wireless signals from one or more of the first wireless transmission system, another secondary wireless transmission system, or combinations thereof and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more of the secondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods forwireless transfer of electrical power and/or electrical data signals,and, more particularly, to modular wireless power transmitters capableof repeating a power signal to other associated wireless powertransmitters and associated receivers.

BACKGROUND

Wireless connection systems are used in a variety of applications forthe wireless transfer of electrical energy, electrical power,electromagnetic energy, electrical data signals, among other knownwirelessly transmittable signals. Such systems often use inductiveand/or resonant inductive wireless power transfer, which occurs whenmagnetic fields created by a transmitting element induce an electricfield and, hence, an electric current, in a receiving element. Thesetransmitting and receiving elements will often take the form of coiledwires and/or antennas.

Transmission of one or more of electrical energy, electrical power,electromagnetic energy and/or electronic data signals from one of suchcoiled antennas to another, generally, operates at an operatingfrequency and/or an operating frequency range. The operating frequencymay be selected for a variety of reasons, such as, but not limited to,power transfer characteristics, power level characteristics,self-resonant frequency restraints, design requirements, adherence tostandards bodies' required characteristics (e.g. electromagneticinterference (EMI) requirements, specific absorption rate (SAR)requirements, among other things), bill of materials (BOM), and/or formfactor constraints, among other things. It is to be noted that,“self-resonating frequency,” as known to those having skill in the art,generally refers to the resonant frequency of a passive component (e.g.,an inductor) due to the parasitic characteristics of the component.

When such systems operate to wirelessly transfer power from atransmission system to a receiver system, via the coils and/or antennas,it is often desired to simultaneously or intermittently communicateelectronic data from one system to the other. To that end, a variety ofcommunications systems, methods, and/or apparatus have been utilized forcombined wireless power and wireless data transfer. In some examplesystems, wireless power transfer related communications (e.g.,validation procedures, electronic characteristics data communications,voltage data, current data, device type data, among other contemplateddata communications) are performed using other circuitry, such as anoptional Near Field Communications (NFC) antenna utilized to complimentthe wireless power system and/or additional Bluetooth chipsets for datacommunications, among other known communications circuits and/orantennas.

However, using additional antennas and/or circuitry can give rise toseveral disadvantages. For instance, using additional antennas and/orcircuitry can be inefficient and/or can increase the BOM of a wirelesspower system, which raises the cost for putting wireless power into anelectronic device. Further, in some such systems, out of bandcommunications provided by such additional antennas may result ininterference, such as cross-talk between the antennas; such cross talkmay present challenges in. Further yet, inclusion of such additionalantennas and/or circuitry can result in worsened EMI, as introduction ofthe additional system will cause greater harmonic distortion, incomparison to a system wherein both a wireless power signal and a datasignal are within the same channel. Still further, inclusion ofadditional antennas and/or circuitry hardware, for communications orincreased charging or powering area, may increase the area within adevice, for which the wireless power systems and/or components thereofreside, complicating a build of an end product.

SUMMARY

In some example applications for wireless power transfer, it is desiredto power and/or charge multiple electronic devices simultaneously.Currently, systems and/or products exist, employing multiple transmittercoils and associated driver circuits, wherein each system couples withan individual receiving device. However, such systems are expensive, asthe BOM is increased greatly for every additional system. Further,systems with multiple antennas and/or driving circuitry may be prone tointerference, between one another, leading to potential inefficienciesand/or complications in communications capability or causing degradationto communications capabilities. Additionally, if a user were to desireto increase the charging and/or powering area of the transmitter, theuser would be limited to the area provided by the original device orwould be required to provide an additional wireless transmitter, havinga separate connector to a power source.

Additionally, using the systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed hereinmay allow for greater variety in form factor selection and/orconfiguration. Thus, a designer and/or user may configure a poweringarea modularly, in manners that are nearly infinitely customizable, oneither the design or consumer-user level. Such variety of form factorselection/configuration may include multiple antenna designs thatprovide a transmitting device with multiple “sub-areas” that eitherprovide the benefit of a wider power transmission area or allow formultiple devices to be powered by a single transmission system.

To that end, modular wireless power transmitters, which are capable ofrepeating a wireless power signal to an associated, additional wirelesspower transmitter, are desired. Such systems may include communicationssystems and/or circuitry that provide stable and efficient in bandcommunications, eliminating the aforementioned need for additionalwireless data transmission antennas and/or circuitry. The systems andmethods disclosed herein provide for a nearly unlimited combination ofwireless power transmission areas, made possible by the inclusion of aplurality of modular wireless power transmitters in connection via useof the transmission antenna(s) as repeaters of the wireless powersignal.

In addition to providing a greater charging area, utilizing multiplemodular wireless power transmitters, as disclosed herein, may providefor further enhancement and/or fidelity of one or both of wireless powersignals and/or wireless data signals, upon such signals' ultimatetransmission to a receiver. While the transmitter connected wirelesspower transmitters may omit active elements in their signal path whencoupled with, at least, the input source connected wireless powertransmitter, the electronic signals will still travel through any tuningsystem(s) and/or inactive filters of the unsourced wireless powertransmitters. Such exposure of the signal to additional filtering and/ortuning will further process the signal, in addition to thefiltering/tuning performed by the input source connected wireless powertransmitter. Thus, the additional filtering can increase fidelity of theelectronic signals.

Additionally, the inclusion of multiple, repeater-connected wirelesstransmission systems, in separate modules, may allow for supply chain,retail stocking, and/or manufacturing benefits. As large and widecharging areas may be desired (to, for example, cover, in whole or inpart, a desktop or tabletop), packaging and/or storing such a largesized wireless power transmission system may be burdensome to the supplychain, retail stocking, and/or manufacturing of such transmissionsystems. Therefore, by utilizing the modular wireless transmissionsystems disclosed herein, such burdens may be resolved, as the desiredlarge wireless power transmission areas can be subdivided into thedisclosed modular transmission systems, to be packaged, singularly or asa plurality, with far smaller surface areas than a packaged large area,non-modular transmitter. Additionally or alternatively, the modularwireless power transmission systems disclosed herein may be utilized, assold separately from one another, to upgrade or expand a wirelesstransmission area of a surface, as the modularity allows for a user toacquire additional transmitters to expand the wirelessly powered space.

The communications systems of the wireless power transmitters disclosedherein is a relatively inexpensive and/or simplified circuit utilizedto, at least partially, decode or demodulate ASK signals down to alertsfor rising and falling edges of a data signal. So long as thetransmission controller 28 is programmed to understand the coding schemaof the ASK modulation, the transmission controller will expend far lesscomputational resources than it would if it had to decode the leadingand falling edges directly from an input current or voltage sense signalfrom the sensing system. To that end, as the computational resourcesrequired by the transmission controller to decode the wireless datasignals are significantly decreased due to the inclusion of thedemodulation circuit. Thus, it follows, that the demodulation circuitmay significantly reduce BOM of the wireless transmission system, byallowing usage of cheaper, less computationally capable processor(s) foror with the transmission controller 28.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the wireless transmission antennais configured to generate a greater powering or charging area, withrespect to legacy transmission antennas. Further, by utilizing thetransmission antennas and the intelligent placement of the crossovers,the antenna may effectively function as multiple antennas capable oftransmission to multiple receivers. Further, due to the spacing of theinner and outer turns, a more uniform charge envelope may be achieved,leading to greater spatial freedom for the receiver when placed relativeto the transmission antenna. Thus, having a higher density of turns onthe outer edges of the antenna may prevent dead spots or inconsistentcoupling, when a receiver is positioned proximate to an outer edge ofthe wireless transmission system 120.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a modular wirelesspower transfer system is disclosed. The system includes a first wirelesstransmission system and one or more secondary wireless transmissionsystems. The first wireless transmission system is configured to receiveinput power from an input power source and generate AC wireless signalsbased, at least in part, on the input power, the AC wireless signalsincluding wireless power signals and wireless data signals, the firstwireless transmission system including a first transmission antennaconfigured to couple with one or more other antennas. Each of the one ormore secondary wireless transmission systems includes a secondarytransmission antenna, the secondary transmission antenna configured tocouple with one or more of another secondary transmission antenna, thefirst transmission antenna, one or more receiver antennas, orcombinations thereof. The one or more secondary wireless transmissionsystems are configured to receive the AC wireless signals from one ormore of the first wireless transmission system, another secondarywireless transmission system, or combinations thereof and repeat the ACwireless signals to one or more of the secondary transmission antennas,the one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof.

In a refinement, the system further includes a wireless receiver systemconfigured to receive the AC wireless signals to provide electricalpower to a load operatively associated with the wireless receiversystem, the wireless receiver system including one of the one or morereceiver antennas, the one or more receiver antennas each configured tocouple with one or more of the first wireless transmission system, theone or more secondary wireless transmission systems, or combinationsthereof.

In a further refinement, one or more of the first wireless transmissionsystem, the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems, orcombinations thereof are configured to directly power an electronicdevice operatively associated with the wireless receiver system.

In another further refinement, one or more of the first wirelesstransmission system, the one or more secondary wireless transmissionsystems, or combinations thereof are configured to provide electricalpower to a load of an electronic device operatively associated with thewireless receiver system, wherein the load is an electrical energystorage device.

In a refinement, the first wireless transmission system further includesa first transmission controller configured to provide first drivingsignals for driving the first transmission antenna, a first powerconditioning system configured to receive the driving signals andgenerate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the firstdriving signal. In such a refinement, a first power conditioning systemconfigured to receive the driving signals and generate the AC wirelesssignals based, at least in part, on the first driving signal and a firstpower conditioning system configured to receive the driving signals andgenerate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the firstdriving signal.

In a further refinement, when the at least one of the one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems is configured to repeat the ACwireless signals, the second transmission controller and the secondpower conditioning system are bypassed in a signal path for the ACwireless signals.

In a refinement, the first wireless transmission system further includesa first transmission controller configured to provide first drivingsignals for driving the first transmission antenna, a first powerconditioning system configured to receive the driving signals andgenerate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the firstdriving signal, and a first transmission tuning system operativelyassociated with the first transmission antenna. In such a refinement, atleast one of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systemsfurther includes a second transmission tuning system operativelyassociated with the secondary transmission antenna.

In a further refinement, the first transmission tuning system isconfigured to filter the AC wireless signals to generate filtered ACwireless signals and the second transmission tuning system is configuredto further filter the filtered AC wireless signals to generatetwice-filtered AC wireless signals.

In a refinement, the system further includes a demodulation circuitconfigured to receive communications signals from a wireless receiversystem and decode the communications signals by determining a rate ofchange in electrical characteristics of the communications signals.

In a refinement, the first wireless transmission system further includesa repeater tuning system configured to tune a portion of the firstantenna to function as a repeater for the AC wireless signals.

In a refinement, at least one of the one or more secondary wirelesstransmission systems further includes a repeater tuning systemconfigured to tune the secondary transmission antenna to function as arepeater for the AC wireless signals.

In a further refinement, the secondary transmission antenna includes afirst antenna portion and a second antenna portion and the repeatertuning system is configured to tune the secondary transmission antennasuch that the first antenna portion is configured to receive the ACwireless signals from the transmission antenna and one or more of thefirst antenna portion, the second antenna portion, or combinationsthereof are configured to repeat the AC wireless signals.

In a refinement, each of the first transmission antenna and the secondtransmission antenna are configured to operate based on an operatingfrequency of about 6.78 MHz.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a modular wirelesstransmission system for transmitting AC wireless signals is disclosed.The AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wirelessdata signals. The system includes a transmission controller, a powerconditioning system, and a first transmission antenna. The transmissioncontroller is configured to provide first driving signals for drivingthe first transmission antenna. The power conditioning system isconfigured to receive the driving signals, receive input power from aninput power source, and generate the AC wireless signals based, at leastin part, on the first driving signal and the input power source. Thefirst transmission antenna is configured for coupling with one or moreother antennas and is configured to transmit the AC wireless signals tothe one or more antennas, receive the AC wireless signals from one ormore other antennas, and repeat the AC wireless signals to the one ormore other antennas.

In a refinement, the transmission antenna includes a first antennaportion and a second antenna portion, the second antenna portion isconfigured to receive the AC wireless signals from one or more otherantennas.

In a further refinement, one or more of the first antenna portion, thesecond antenna portion, or combinations thereof are configured to repeatthe AC wireless signals to the one or more other antennas.

In another further refinement, the system further includes a repeatertuning system configured to tune one or more portion of the transmissionantenna to repeat the AC wireless signals.

In another further refinement, when the wireless transmission system isconfigured to repeat the AC wireless signals, the transmissioncontroller and the power conditioning system are bypassed in a signalpath for the AC wireless signals.

In a refinement, the first transmission antenna is configured to operatebased on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a modular wirelesspower transfer system is disclosed. The system is configured to operatebased on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz. The system includes afirst wireless transmission system, one or more secondary wirelesstransmission systems, and a wireless receiver system. The first wirelesstransmission system is configured to receive input power from an inputpower source and generate AC wireless signals based, at least in part,on the input power, the AC wireless signals including wireless powersignals and wireless data signals, the first wireless transmissionsystem including a first transmission antenna configured to couple withone or more other antennas and operate based on the operating frequency.Each of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems includesa secondary transmission antenna, the secondary transmission antennaconfigured to couple with one or more of another secondary transmissionantenna, the first transmission antenna, one or more receiver antennas,or combinations thereof. The one or more secondary wireless transmissionsystems are configured to operate based on the operating frequency,receive the AC wireless signals from one or more of the first wirelesstransmission system, another secondary wireless transmission system, orcombinations thereof, and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or moreof the secondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiverantennas, or combinations thereof. The wireless receiver system isconfigured to receive the AC wireless signals to provide electricalpower to a load operatively associated with the wireless receiversystem, the wireless receiver system including one of the one or morereceiver antennas, the one or more receiver antennas each configured tocouple with one or more of the first wireless transmission system, theone or more secondary wireless transmission systems, or combinationsthereof.

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will bebetter understood when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for wirelesslytransferring one or more of electrical energy, electrical power signals,electrical power, electromagnetic energy, electronic data, andcombinations thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating components of a plurality ofmodular wireless transmission systems of the system of FIG. 1 and aplurality of wireless receiver systems of the system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with FIG. 1 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is another block diagram illustrating components of a pluralityof modular wireless transmission systems of the system of FIG. 1 and aplurality of wireless receiver systems of the system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with FIG. 1 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of a transmissioncontrol system of the wireless transmission system of FIG. 2, inaccordance with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating components of a sensing system ofthe transmission control system of FIG. 3, in accordance with FIGS. 1-3and the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for an example low pass filter of the sensingsystem of FIG. 4, in accordance with FIGS. 1-4 and the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating components of a demodulationcircuit for the wireless transmission system of FIG. 2, in accordancewith FIGS. 1-4 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic diagram for the demodulation circuitof FIG. 6, in accordance with FIGS. 1-6 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram for voltages of an electrical signal, as ittravels through the demodulation circuit, in accordance with FIGS. 1-7and the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a powerconditioning system of the wireless transmission system of FIG. 2, inaccordance with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating components of a receiver controlsystem and a receiver power conditioning system of the wireless receiversystem of FIG. 2, in accordance with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of another wireless power transfer system,including modular wireless transmission system(s) and at least onewireless receiver system, including like or similar elements to those ofthe system(s) of FIGS. 1-10, in accordance with FIGS. 1-10 and thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12A is a simplified electrical schematic diagram of a wirelesspower transmitter of FIG. 11, in accordance with FIGS. 1-11 and thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12B is another simplified electrical schematic diagram of thewireless power transmitter of FIG. 12A, in accordance with FIGS. 1-12Aand the present disclosure.

FIG. 13A is a top perspective view of a modular wireless powertransmitter of FIGS. 11-12, residing in a housing, in accordance withFIGS. 1-12 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 13B is another top perspective view of the modular wireless powertransmitter of FIG. 13A, but with a top of the housing removed fromview, in accordance with FIGS. 1-13A and the present disclosure.

FIG. 14A is an illustration of a configuration of the wireless powertransfer system of FIGS. 1-13 and associated host device(s), inaccordance with FIGS. 1-13B and the present disclosure.

FIG. 14B is a block diagram of the wireless power transfer system ofFIG. 11, but illustrating components utilized in the configuration ofFIG. 14A, in accordance with FIGS. 1-13B, 14A, and the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15A is an illustration of a configuration of the wireless powertransfer system of FIGS. 1-13 and associated host device(s), inaccordance with FIGS. 1-13B and the present disclosure.

FIG. 15B is a block diagram of the wireless power transfer system ofFIG. 11, but illustrating components utilized in the configuration ofFIG. 15A, in accordance with FIGS. 1-13B, 15A, and the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16A is an illustration of a configuration of the wireless powertransfer system of FIGS. 1-13 and associated host device(s), inaccordance with FIGS. 1-13B and the present disclosure.

FIG. 16B is a block diagram of the wireless power transfer system ofFIG. 11, but illustrating components utilized in the configuration ofFIG. 16A, in accordance with FIGS. 1-13B, 16A, and the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a transmission antenna including two portionswhich may operate as virtual independent antennas, for use with thesystem(s) of FIGS. 1-16B, in accordance with FIGS. 1-16B and the presentdisclosure

FIG. 18 is a top view of a non-limiting, exemplary antenna, for use asone or both of a transmission antenna and a receiver antenna of thesystem of FIGS. 1-8, 10-12 and/or any other systems, methods, orapparatus disclosed herein, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary method for designing a system for wirelesstransmission of one or more of electrical energy, electrical powersignals, electrical power, electrical electromagnetic energy, electronicdata, and combinations thereof, in accordance with FIGS. 1-16, and thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for an exemplary method for designing a wirelesstransmission system for the system of FIG. 19, in accordance with FIGS.1-19 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart for an exemplary method for designing a wirelessreceiver system for the system of FIG. 20, in accordance with FIGS. 1-19and the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart for an exemplary method for manufacturing asystem for wireless transmission of one or more of electrical energy,electrical power signals, electrical power, electrical electromagneticenergy, electronic data, and combinations thereof, in accordance withFIGS. 1-16, 21 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for an exemplary method for manufacturing awireless transmission system for the system of FIG. 22, in accordancewith FIGS. 1-16, 22 and the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for an exemplary method for designing a wirelessreceiver system for the system of FIG. 22, in accordance with FIGS.1-16, 22, and the present disclosure.

While the following detailed description will be given with respect tocertain illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that thedrawings are not necessarily to scale and the disclosed embodiments aresometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. Inaddition, in certain instances, details which are not necessary for anunderstanding of the disclosed subject matter or which render otherdetails too difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It shouldtherefore be understood that this disclosure is not limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein, but rather to afair reading of the entire disclosure and claims, as well as anyequivalents thereto. Additional, different, or fewer components andmethods may be included in the systems and methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth byway of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of therelevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, withoutdetail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the presentteachings.

Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to FIG. 1, awireless power transfer system 10 is illustrated. The wireless powertransfer system 10 provides for the wireless transmission of electricalsignals, such as, but not limited to, electrical energy, electricalpower, electrical power signals, electromagnetic energy, andelectronically transmittable data (“electronic data”). As used herein,the term “electrical power signal” refers to an electrical signaltransmitted specifically to provide meaningful electrical energy forcharging and/or directly powering a load, whereas the term “electronicdata signal” refers to an electrical signal that is utilized to conveydata across a medium.

The wireless power transfer system 10 provides for the wirelesstransmission of electrical signals via near field magnetic coupling. Asshown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the wireless power transfer system 10includes one or more wireless transmission systems 20 and one or morewireless receiver systems 30. A wireless receiver system 30 isconfigured to receive electrical signals from, at least, a wirelesstransmission system 20. As illustrated, the system 10 may include anynumber of wireless transmission systems 20, up to “N” number of wirelesstransmission systems 20N. Similarly, the system 10 may include anynumber of wireless receiver systems 30, up to “N” number of wirelessreceiver systems 30N.

As illustrated, the wireless transmission system(s) 20 and wirelessreceiver system(s) 30 may be configured to transmit electrical signalsacross, at least, a separation distance or gap 17. A separation distanceor gap, such as the gap 17, in the context of a wireless power transfersystem, such as the system 10, does not include a physical connection,such as a wired connection. There may be intermediary objects located ina separation distance or gap, such as, but not limited to, air, acounter top, a casing for an electronic device, a plastic filament, aninsulator, a mechanical wall, among other things; however, there is nophysical, electrical connection at such a separation distance or gap.

Thus, the combination of two or more wireless transmission systems 20and wireless receiver system 30 create an electrical connection withoutthe need for a physical connection. As used herein, the term “electricalconnection” refers to any facilitation of a transfer of an electricalcurrent, voltage, and/or power from a first location, device, component,and/or source to a second location, device, component, and/ordestination. An “electrical connection” may be a physical connection,such as, but not limited to, a wire, a trace, a via, among otherphysical electrical connections, connecting a first location, device,component, and/or source to a second location, device, component, and/ordestination. Additionally or alternatively, an “electrical connection”may be a wireless power and/or data transfer, such as, but not limitedto, magnetic, electromagnetic, resonant, and/or inductive field, amongother wireless power and/or data transfers, connecting a first location,device, component, and/or source to a second location, device,component, and/or destination.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, one or more transmission antennas 21 of thewireless transmission system(s) 20 may operate as a repeater of awireless power signal. As defined herein, a “repeater” is an antennathat is configured to relay magnetic fields emanating between atransmission antenna 21 and one or both of a receiver antenna 31 and oneor more other transmission antennas 21, when such subsequenttransmission antennas 21 are configured as repeaters. Thus, the one ormore transmission antennas 21 and/or systems 20 thereof may beconfigured to relay electrical energy and/or data via NMFC from thetransmission antenna 21 to a receiver antenna 31 or to anothertransmission antenna 21. In one or more embodiments, such repeatingtransmission antennas 20B, 20N comprise an inductor coil capable ofresonating at a frequency that is about the same as the resonatingfrequency of the transmission antenna 21 and the receiver antenna 31.

Further, while FIGS. 1-2B may depict wireless power signals and wirelessdata signals transferring only from one antenna (e.g., a transmissionantenna 21) to another antenna (e.g., a receiver antenna 31 and/or atransmission antenna 21), it is certainly possible that a transmittingantenna 21 may transfer electrical signals and/or couple with one ormore other antennas and transfer, at least in part, components of theoutput signals or magnetic fields of the transmitting antenna 21. Suchtransmission may include secondary and/or stray coupling or signaltransfer to multiple antennas of the system 10.

In some cases, the gap 17 may also be referenced as a “Z-Distance,”because, if one considers an antenna 21, 31 each to be disposedsubstantially along respective common X-Y planes, then the distanceseparating the antennas 21, 31 is the gap in a “Z” or “depth” direction.However, flexible and/or non-planar coils are certainly contemplated byembodiments of the present disclosure and, thus, it is contemplated thatthe gap 17 may not be uniform, across an envelope of connectiondistances between the antennas 21, 31. It is contemplated that varioustunings, configurations, and/or other parameters may alter the possiblemaximum distance of the gap 17, such that electrical transmission fromthe wireless transmission system 20 to the wireless receiver system 30remains possible.

The wireless power transfer system 10 operates when the wirelesstransmission system 20 and the wireless receiver system 30 are coupled.As used herein, the terms “couples,” “coupled,” and “coupling” generallyrefer to magnetic field coupling, which occurs when a transmitter and/orany components thereof and a receiver and/or any components thereof arecoupled to each other through a magnetic field. Such coupling mayinclude coupling, represented by a coupling coefficient (k), that is atleast sufficient for an induced electrical power signal, from atransmitter, to be harnessed by a receiver. Coupling of the wirelesstransmission system 20 and the wireless receiver system 30, in thesystem 10, may be represented by a resonant coupling coefficient of thesystem 10 and, for the purposes of wireless power transfer, the couplingcoefficient for the system 10 may be in the range of about 0.01 and 0.9.

As illustrated, at least one wireless transmission system 20A isassociated with an input power source 12. The input power source 12 maybe operatively associated with a host device, which may be anyelectrically operated device, circuit board, electronic assembly,dedicated charging device, or any other contemplated electronic device.Example host devices, with which the wireless transmission system 20Amay be associated therewith, include, but are not limited to including,a device that includes an integrated circuit, a portable computingdevice, storage medium for electronic devices, charging apparatus forone or multiple electronic devices, dedicated electrical chargingdevices, among other contemplated electronic devices.

The input power source 12 may be or may include one or more electricalstorage devices, such as an electrochemical cell, a battery pack, and/ora capacitor, among other storage devices. Additionally or alternatively,the input power source 12 may be any electrical input source (e.g., anyalternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) delivery port) and mayinclude connection apparatus from said electrical input source to thewireless transmission system 20 (e.g., transformers, regulators,conductive conduits, traces, wires, or equipment, goods, computer,camera, mobile phone, and/or other electrical device connection portsand/or adaptors, such as but not limited to USB ports and/or adaptors,among other contemplated electrical components).

In FIG. 1, the only wireless transmission system 20 that is physicallyin electrical connection with the input power source 12 is the firstwireless transmission system 20A. A wireless transmission system 20 thatis in physical electrical connection with the input power source 12, forthe purposes of this disclosure, is referred to as a “input sourceconnected wireless power transmitter.” The additional wireless powertransmission systems 20B, 20N both are capable of repeating andtransmitting wireless signals and may include like or identicalcomponents to those of the input source connected wireless powertransmitter 20A; however, the systems 20B, 20N are not in physicalelectrical connection with the input power source 12 and repeat wirelesspower signals and wireless data signals from one or more of the inputsource connected wireless power transmitter 20A, another transmitterconnected wireless power transmitter 20B, 20N, or combinations thereof.A wireless transmission system 20 that is not in physical electricalconnection with the input power source 12, for the purposes of thisdisclosure, is referred to as a “transmitter connected wireless powertransmitter.”

Electrical energy received by the wireless transmission system(s) 20 isthen used for at least two purposes: to provide electrical power tointernal components of the wireless transmission system 20 and toprovide electrical power to the transmission antenna 21. Thetransmission antenna 21 is configured to wirelessly transmit theelectrical signals conditioned and modified for wireless transmission bythe wireless transmission system 20 via near-field magnetic coupling(NFMC). Near-field magnetic coupling enables the transfer of signalswirelessly through magnetic induction between the transmission antenna21 and one or more of receiving antenna 31 of, or associated with, thewireless receiver system 30, another transmission antenna 21, orcombinations thereof. Near-field magnetic coupling may be and/or bereferred to as “inductive coupling,” which, as used herein, is awireless power transmission technique that utilizes an alternatingelectromagnetic field to transfer electrical energy between twoantennas. Such inductive coupling is the near field wirelesstransmission of magnetic energy between two magnetically coupled coilsthat are tuned to resonate at a similar frequency. Accordingly, suchnear-field magnetic coupling may enable efficient wireless powertransmission via resonant transmission of confined magnetic fields.Further, such near-field magnetic coupling may provide connection via“mutual inductance,” which, as defined herein is the production of anelectromotive force in a circuit by a change in current in a secondcircuit magnetically coupled to the first.

In one or more embodiments, the inductor coils of either thetransmission antenna 21 or the receiver antenna 31 are strategicallypositioned to facilitate reception and/or transmission of wirelesslytransferred electrical signals through near field magnetic induction.Antenna operating frequencies may comprise relatively high operatingfrequency ranges, examples of which may include, but are not limited to,6.78 MHz (e.g., in accordance with the Rezence and/or Airfuel interfacestandard and/or any other proprietary interface standard operating at afrequency of 6.78 MHz), 13.56 MHz (e.g., in accordance with the NFCstandard, defined by ISO/IEC standard 18092), 27 MHz, and/or anoperating frequency of another proprietary operating mode. The operatingfrequencies of the antennas 21, 31 may be operating frequenciesdesignated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in theIndustrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency bands, including notlimited to 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and 27 MHz, which are designated for usein wireless power transfer.

The transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna of the presentdisclosure may be configured to transmit and/or receive electrical powerhaving a magnitude that ranges from about 10 milliwatts (mW) to about500 watts (W). In one or more embodiments the inductor coil of thetransmitting antenna 21 is configured to resonate at a transmittingantenna resonant frequency or within a transmitting antenna resonantfrequency band.

As known to those skilled in the art, a “resonant frequency” or“resonant frequency band” refers a frequency or frequencies whereinamplitude response of the antenna is at a relative maximum, or,additionally or alternatively, the frequency or frequency band where thecapacitive reactance has a magnitude substantially similar to themagnitude of the inductive reactance. In one or more embodiments, thetransmitting antenna resonant frequency is at a high frequency, as knownto those in the art of wireless power transfer.

The wireless receiver system 30 may be associated with at least oneelectronic device 14, wherein the electronic device 14 may be any devicethat requires electrical power for any function and/or for power storage(e.g., via a battery and/or capacitor). Additionally, the electronicdevice 14 may be any device capable of receipt of electronicallytransmissible data. For example, the device may be, but is not limitedto being, a handheld computing device, a mobile device, a portableappliance, a computer peripheral, an integrated circuit, an identifiabletag, a kitchen utility device, an electronic tool, an electric vehicle,a game console, a robotic device, a wearable electronic device (e.g., anelectronic watch, electronically modified glasses, altered-reality (AR)glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, among other things), a portablescanning device, a portable identifying device, a sporting good, anembedded sensor, an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor, IoT enabledclothing, IoT enabled recreational equipment, industrial equipment,medical equipment, a medical device a tablet computing device, aportable control device, a remote controller for an electronic device, agaming controller, among other things.

For the purposes of illustrating the features and characteristics of thedisclosed embodiments, arrow-ended lines are utilized to illustratetransferrable and/or communicative signals and various patterns are usedto illustrate electrical signals that are intended for powertransmission and electrical signals that are intended for thetransmission of data and/or control instructions. Solid lines indicatesignal transmission of electrical energy over a physical and/or wirelesspower transfer, in the form of power signals that are, ultimately,utilized in wireless power transmission from the wireless transmissionsystem 20 to the wireless receiver system 30. Further, dotted lines areutilized to illustrate electronically transmittable data signals, whichultimately may be wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transmissionsystem 20 to the wireless receiver system 30.

While the systems and methods herein illustrate the transmission ofwirelessly transmitted energy, wireless power signals, wirelesslytransmitted power, wirelessly transmitted electromagnetic energy, and/orelectronically transmittable data, it is certainly contemplated that thesystems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein may be utilized in thetransmission of only one signal, various combinations of two signals, ormore than two signals and, further, it is contemplated that the systems,method, and apparatus disclosed herein may be utilized for wirelesstransmission of other electrical signals in addition to or uniquely incombination with one or more of the above mentioned signals. In someexamples, the signal paths of solid or dotted lines may represent afunctional signal path, whereas, in practical application, the actualsignal is routed through additional components en route to its indicateddestination. For example, it may be indicated that a data signal routesfrom a communications apparatus to another communications apparatus;however, in practical application, the data signal may be routed throughan amplifier, then through a transmission antenna, to a receiverantenna, where, on the receiver end, the data signal is decoded by arespective communications device of the receiver.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the wireless power transfer system 10 isillustrated as a block diagram including example sub-systems of both thewireless transmission systems 20 and the wireless receiver systems 30.The wireless transmission systems 20 may include, at least, a powerconditioning system 40, a transmission control system 26, a transmissiontuning system 24, and the transmission antenna 21. A first portion ofthe electrical energy input from the input power source 12 may beconfigured to electrically power components of the wireless transmissionsystem 20 such as, but not limited to, the transmission control system26. A second portion of the electrical energy input from the input powersource 12 is conditioned and/or modified for wireless powertransmission, to the wireless receiver system 30, via the transmissionantenna 21. Accordingly, the second portion of the input energy ismodified and/or conditioned by the power conditioning system 40. Whilenot illustrated, it is certainly contemplated that one or both of thefirst and second portions of the input electrical energy may bemodified, conditioned, altered, and/or otherwise changed prior toreceipt by the power conditioning system 40 and/or transmission controlsystem 26, by further contemplated subsystems (e.g., a voltageregulator, a current regulator, switching systems, fault systems, safetyregulators, among other things).

In some examples including transmitter connected wireless transmissionsystems 20B, 20N, active or externally powered components of thewireless transmission system 20 may be shorted or bypassed, when theelectrical signals pass through circuitry of the transmitter connectedwireless transmission systems 20B, 20N. Such shorting or bypassing ofthe active electronics may be achieved when the transmission antennas21B, 12N are properly impedance matched for repeating the wirelesssignals. Such signal travel through, for example, the transmissiontuning systems 20B, 20N may provide for greater filtering and/or signalfidelity, as another instance of filtering and/or tuning is provided tothe travelling signal, prior to transmission by the transmissionantennas 21B, 21N. As illustrated best in the system of FIG. 2B, someexample transmitter connected wireless transmission systems 20B, 20N mayomit one or more of the active circuits and/or active circuit componentsof the wireless transmission system 20A.

“Active components,” as defined herein, refer to components of thewireless transmission system(s) 20 that require an input power (e.g.,from an input power source 12) to perform their intended functionswithin the wireless transmission system(s) 20 and/or any sub-componentsthereof. Active components include, but are not limited to including,processors, controllers, amplifiers, transistors, or combinationsthereof, among other active components known to those having skill inthe art. “Passive components,” as defined herein, refer to components ofthe wireless transmission system(s) 20 that perform their intendedfunctions, within the wireless transmission system(s) 20 and/or anysub-components thereof, whether or not the passive components are in asignal path of an input power source. Example passive componentsinclude, but are not limited to including, resistors, capacitors,inductors, diodes, transformers, or combinations thereof, among otherpassive components known to those having skill in the art.

By omitting the active components in the signal path, modular,additional transmitter connected wireless transmission systems 20 may beprovided to a user at lower cost than an input source connected wirelesstransmission system 20A. Thus, if the user desires to increase thecharging area for the electronic device(s) 14, transmitter connectedwireless transmission systems 20 may be provided at a lower cost, due tothe omission of active components that would otherwise be necessary ifthe system 20 was drawing power from an input power source.Additionally, by omitting the active components from the signal path,transmission of the wireless signals, via the wireless transmissionsystem 10 including one or more transmission systems 20B, 20N configuredas repeating systems, power or efficiency losses caused by the activecomponents may be removed from the signal transfer.

The term “modular,” as defined herein, is an adjective referring tosystems that may be constructed utilizing standardized units orcomponents, such that user flexibility and/or reconfigurability withsuch standardized units or components allows for a variety uses orpermutations of the system.

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission systemsdisclosed herein may be reconfigurable. A “reconfigurable” wirelesspower transfer or transmission system, as defined herein, refers to awireless power transfer or transmission system having a plurality ofsecondary transmission systems (e.g., the wireless transmission systems20B, 20N) capable of being moved relative to a primary transmissionsystem (e.g., the wireless transmission system 20A), while, during suchmovement, the secondary transmission system(s) are still capable ofreceiving wireless power signals from the primary transmission system. Aprimary transmission system, as defined herein, refers to a poweredand/or “active” wireless power transmission system receiving electricalenergy or power directly from an input power source, which conditionsthe electrical energy or power for wireless transmission. The primarytransmission system generates a primary or active powering/charging zoneproximate to the primary transmission system. A secondary transmissionsystem, as defined herein, refers to a wirelessly powered or “passive”wireless transmission system configured to receive wireless powersignals from a primary transmission system and transmit or repeat thewireless power signals to one or more of additional secondarytransmission systems, wireless receiver systems, or combinationsthereof. Secondary wireless transmission systems generate a secondary orpassive powering/charging zone proximate to the secondary wirelesstransmission system(s).

Referring now to FIG. 3, with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,subcomponents and/or systems of the transmission control system 26 areillustrated. The transmission control system 26 may include a sensingsystem 50, a transmission controller 28, a communications system 29, adriver 48, and a memory 27.

The transmission controller 28 may be any electronic controller orcomputing system that includes, at least, a processor which performsoperations, executes control algorithms, stores data, retrieves data,gathers data, controls and/or provides communication with othercomponents and/or subsystems associated with the wireless transmissionsystem 20, and/or performs any other computing or controlling taskdesired. The transmission controller 28 may be a single controller ormay include more than one controller disposed to control variousfunctions and/or features of the wireless transmission system 20.Functionality of the transmission controller 28 may be implemented inhardware and/or software and may rely on one or more data maps relatingto the operation of the wireless transmission system 20. To that end,the transmission controller 28 may be operatively associated with thememory 27. The memory may include one or more of internal memory,external memory, and/or remote memory (e.g., a database and/or serveroperatively connected to the transmission controller 28 via a network,such as, but not limited to, the Internet). The internal memory and/orexternal memory may include, but are not limited to including, one ormore of a read only memory (ROM), including programmable read-onlymemory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM orsometimes but rarely labelled EROM), electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), random access memory (RAM), including dynamicRAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), singledata rate synchronous dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM), double data ratesynchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4), and graphicsdouble data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3,GDDR4, GDDR5, a flash memory, a portable memory, and the like. Suchmemory media are examples of nontransitory machine readable and/orcomputer readable memory media.

While particular elements of the transmission control system 26 areillustrated as independent components and/or circuits (e.g., the driver48, the memory 27, the communications system 29, the sensing system 50,among other contemplated elements) of the transmission control system26, such components may be integrated with the transmission controller28. In some examples, the transmission controller 28 may be anintegrated circuit configured to include functional elements of one orboth of the transmission controller 28 and the wireless transmissionsystem 20, generally.

As illustrated, the transmission controller 28 is in operativeassociation, for the purposes of data transmission, receipt, and/orcommunication, with, at least, the memory 27, the communications system29, the power conditioning system 40, the driver 48, and the sensingsystem 50. The driver 48 may be implemented to control, at least inpart, the operation of the power conditioning system 40. In someexamples, the driver 48 may receive instructions from the transmissioncontroller 28 to generate and/or output a generated pulse widthmodulation (PWM) signal to the power conditioning system 40. In somesuch examples, the PWM signal may be configured to drive the powerconditioning system 40 to output electrical power as an alternatingcurrent signal, having an operating frequency defined by the PWM signal.In some examples, PWM signal may be configured to generate a duty cyclefor the AC power signal output by the power conditioning system 40. Insome such examples, the duty cycle may be configured to be about 50% ofa given period of the AC power signal.

The sensing system may include one or more sensors, wherein each sensormay be operatively associated with one or more components of thewireless transmission system 20 and configured to provide informationand/or data. The term “sensor” is used in its broadest interpretation todefine one or more components operatively associated with the wirelesstransmission system 20 that operate to sense functions, conditions,electrical characteristics, operations, and/or operating characteristicsof one or more of the wireless transmission system 20, the wirelessreceiving system 30, the input power source 12, the host device 11, thetransmission antenna 21, the receiver antenna 31, along with any othercomponents and/or subcomponents thereof.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the sensing system 50 mayinclude, but is not limited to including, a thermal sensing system 52,an object sensing system 54, a receiver sensing system 56, a currentsensor 57, and/or any other sensor(s) 58. Within these systems, theremay exist even more specific optional additional or alternative sensingsystems addressing particular sensing aspects required by anapplication, such as, but not limited to: a condition-based maintenancesensing system, a performance optimization sensing system, astate-of-charge sensing system, a temperature management sensing system,a component heating sensing system, an IoT sensing system, an energyand/or power management sensing system, an impact detection sensingsystem, an electrical status sensing system, a speed detection sensingsystem, a device health sensing system, among others. The object sensingsystem 54, may be a foreign object detection (FOD) system.

Each of the thermal sensing system 52, the object sensing system 54, thereceiver sensing system 56, the current sensor 57, and/or the othersensor(s) 58, including the optional additional or alternative systems,are operatively and/or communicatively connected to the transmissioncontroller 28. The thermal sensing system 52 is configured to monitorambient and/or component temperatures within the wireless transmissionsystem 20 or other elements nearby the wireless transmission system 20.The thermal sensing system 52 may be configured to detect a temperaturewithin the wireless transmission system 20 and, if the detectedtemperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the transmission controller28 prevents the wireless transmission system 20 from operating. Such athreshold temperature may be configured for safety considerations,operational considerations, efficiency considerations, and/or anycombinations thereof. In a non-limiting example, if, via input from thethermal sensing system 52, the transmission controller 28 determinesthat the temperature within the wireless transmission system 20 hasincreased from an acceptable operating temperature to an undesiredoperating temperature (e.g., in a non-limiting example, the internaltemperature increasing from about 20° Celsius (C.) to about 50° C., thetransmission controller 28 prevents the operation of the wirelesstransmission system 20 and/or reduces levels of power output from thewireless transmission system 20. In some non-limiting examples, thethermal sensing system 52 may include one or more of a thermocouple, athermistor, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor, aresistance temperature detector (RTD), and/or any combinations thereof.

As depicted in FIG. 4, the transmission sensing system 50 may includethe object sensing system 54. The object sensing system 54 may beconfigured to detect one or more of the wireless receiver system 30and/or the receiver antenna 31, thus indicating to the transmissioncontroller 28 that the receiver system 30 is proximate to the wirelesstransmission system 20. Additionally or alternatively, the objectsensing system 54 may be configured to detect presence of unwantedobjects in contact with or proximate to the wireless transmission system20. In some examples, the object sensing system 54 is configured todetect the presence of an undesired object. In some such examples, ifthe transmission controller 28, via information provided by the objectsensing system 54, detects the presence of an undesired object, then thetransmission controller 28 prevents or otherwise modifies operation ofthe wireless transmission system 20. In some examples, the objectsensing system 54 utilizes an impedance change detection scheme, inwhich the transmission controller 28 analyzes a change in electricalimpedance observed by the transmission antenna 20 against a known,acceptable electrical impedance value or range of electrical impedancevalues.

Additionally or alternatively, the object sensing system 54 may utilizea quality factor (Q) change detection scheme, in which the transmissioncontroller 28 analyzes a change from a known quality factor value orrange of quality factor values of the object being detected, such as thereceiver antenna 31. The “quality factor” or “Q” of an inductor can bedefined as (frequency (Hz)×inductance (H))/resistance (ohms), wherefrequency is the operational frequency of the circuit, inductance is theinductance output of the inductor and resistance is the combination ofthe radiative and reactive resistances that are internal to theinductor. “Quality factor,” as defined herein, is generally accepted asan index (figure of measure) that measures the efficiency of anapparatus like an antenna, a circuit, or a resonator. In some examples,the object sensing system 54 may include one or more of an opticalsensor, an electro-optical sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a proximitysensor, and/or any combinations thereof. In some examples, the qualityfactor measurements, described above, may be performed when the wirelesspower transfer system 10 is performing in band communications.

The receiver sensing system 56 is any sensor, circuit, and/orcombinations thereof configured to detect presence of any wirelessreceiving system that may be couplable with the wireless transmissionsystem 20. In some examples, the receiver sensing system 56 and theobject sensing system 54 may be combined, may share components, and/ormay be embodied by one or more common components. In some examples, ifthe presence of any such wireless receiving system is detected, wirelesstransmission of electrical energy, electrical power, electromagneticenergy, and/or data by the wireless transmission system 20 to saidwireless receiving system is enabled. In some examples, if the presenceof a wireless receiver system is not detected, continued wirelesstransmission of electrical energy, electrical power, electromagneticenergy, and/or data is prevented from occurring. Accordingly, thereceiver sensing system 56 may include one or more sensors and/or may beoperatively associated with one or more sensors that are configured toanalyze electrical characteristics within an environment of or proximateto the wireless transmission system 20 and, based on the electricalcharacteristics, determine presence of a wireless receiver system 30.

The current sensor 57 may be any sensor configured to determineelectrical information from an electrical signal, such as a voltage or acurrent, based on a current reading at the current sensor 57. Componentsof an example current sensor 57 are further illustrated in FIG. 5, whichis a block diagram for the current sensor 57. The current sensor 57 mayinclude a transformer 51, a rectifier 53, and/or a low pass filter 55,to process the AC wireless signals, transferred via coupling between thewireless receiver system(s) 20 and wireless transmission system(s) 30,to determine or provide information to derive a current (I_(Tx)) orvoltage (V_(Tx)) at the transmission antenna 21. The transformer 51 mayreceive the AC wireless signals and either step up or step down thevoltage of the AC wireless signal, such that it can properly beprocessed by the current sensor. The rectifier 53 may receive thetransformed AC wireless signal and rectify the signal, such that anynegative remaining in the transformed AC wireless signal are eithereliminated or converted to opposite positive voltages, to generate arectified AC wireless signal. The low pass filter 55 is configured toreceive the rectified AC wireless signal and filter out AC components(e.g., the operating or carrier frequency of the AC wireless signal) ofthe rectified AC wireless signal, such that a DC voltage is output forthe current (I_(Tx)) and/or voltage (V_(Tx)) at the transmission antenna21.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for a demodulation circuit 70 for the wirelesstransmission system(s) 20, which is used by the wireless transmissionsystem 20 to simplify or decode components of wireless data signals ofan alternating current (AC) wireless signal, prior to transmission ofthe wireless data signal to the transmission controller 28. Thedemodulation circuit includes, at least, a slope detector 72 and acomparator 74. In some examples, the demodulation circuit 70 includes aset/reset (SR) latch 76. In some examples, the demodulation circuit 70may be an analog circuit comprised of one or more passive components(e.g., resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, among other passivecomponents) and/or one or more active components (e.g., operationalamplifiers, logic gates, among other active components). Alternatively,it is contemplated that the demodulation circuit 70 and some or all ofits components may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC). Ineither an analog circuit or IC, it is contemplated that the demodulationcircuit may be external of the transmission controller 28 and isconfigured to provide information associated with wireless data signalstransmitted from the wireless receiver system 30 to the wirelesstransmission system 20.

The demodulation circuit 70 is configured to receive electricalinformation (e.g., I_(Tx), V_(Tx)) from at least one sensor (e.g., asensor of the sensing system 50), detect a change in such electricalinformation, determine if the change in the electrical information meetsor exceeds one of a rise threshold or a fall threshold. If the changeexceeds one of the rise threshold or the fall threshold, thedemodulation circuit 70 generates an alert, and, outpust a plurality ofdata alerts. Such data alerts are received by the transmitter controller28 and decoded by the transmitter controller 28 to determine thewireless data signals. In other words, the demodulation circuit 70 isconfigured to monitor the slope of an electrical signal (e.g., slope ofa voltage at the power conditioning system 32 of a wireless receiversystem 30) and output an alert if said slope exceeds a maximum slopethreshold or undershoots a minimum slope threshold.

Such slope monitoring and/or slope detection by the communicationssystem 70 is particularly useful when detecting or decoding an amplitudeshift keying (ASK) signal that encodes the wireless data signals in-bandof the wireless power signal at the operating frequency. In an ASKsignal, the wireless data signals are encoded by damping the voltage ofthe magnetic field between the wireless transmission system 20 and thewireless receiver system 30. Such damping and subsequent re-rising ofthe voltage in the field is performed based on an encoding scheme forthe wireless data signals (e.g., binary coding, Manchester coding,pulse-width modulated coding, among other known or novel coding systemsand methods). The receiver of the wireless data signals (e.g., thewireless transmission system 20) must then detect rising and fallingedges of the voltage of the field and decode said rising and fallingedges to receive the wireless data signals.

While in a theoretical, ideal scenario, an ASK signal will rise and fallinstantaneously, with no slope between the high voltage and the lowvoltage for ASK modulation; however, in physical reality, there is sometime that passes when the ASK signal transitions from the “high” voltageto the “low” voltage. Thus, the voltage or current signal sensed by thedemodulation circuit 70 will have some, knowable slope or rate of changein voltage when transitioning from the high ASK voltage to the low ASKvoltage. By configuring the demodulation circuit 70 to determine whensaid slope meets, overshoots and/or undershoots such rise and fallthresholds, known for the slope when operating in the system 10, thedemodulation circuit can accurately detect rising and falling edges ofthe ASK signal.

Thus, a relatively inexpensive and/or simplified circuit may be utilizedto, at least partially, decode ASK signals down to alerts for rising andfalling instances. So long as the transmission controller 28 isprogrammed to understand the coding schema of the ASK modulation, thetransmission controller 28 will expend far less computational resourcesthan it would if it had to decode the leading and falling edges directlyfrom an input current or voltage sense signal from the sensing system50. To that end, as the computational resources required by thetransmission controller 28 to decode the wireless data signals aresignificantly decreased due to the inclusion of the demodulation circuit70, the demodulation circuit 70 may significantly reduce BOM of thewireless transmission system 20, by allowing usage of cheaper, lesscomputationally capable processor(s) for or with the transmissioncontroller 28.

The demodulation circuit 70 may be particularly useful in reducing thecomputational burden for decoding data signals, at the transmittercontroller 28, when the ASK wireless data signals are encoded/decodedutilizing a pulse-width encoded ASK signals, in-band of the wirelesspower signals. A pulse-width encoded ASK signal refers to a signalwherein the data is encoded as a percentage of a period of a signal. Forexample, a two-bit pulse width encoded signal may encode a start bit as20% of a period between high edges of the signal, encode “1” as 40% of aperiod between high edges of the signal, and encode “0” as 60% of aperiod between high edges of the signal, to generate a binary encodingformat in the pulse width encoding scheme. Thus, as the pulse widthencoding relies solely on monitoring rising and falling edges of the ASKsignal, the periods between rising times need not be constant and thedata signals may be asynchronous or “unclocked.” Examples of pulse widthencoding and systems and methods to perform such pulse width encodingare explained in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/735,342 titled “Systems and Methods for Wireless Power TransferIncluding Pulse Width Encoded Data Communications,” to Michael Katz,which is commonly owned by the owner of the instant application and ishereby incorporated by reference.

Turning now to FIG. 7, with continued reference to FIG. 6, an electricalschematic diagram for the demodulation circuit 70 is illustrated.Additionally, reference will be made to FIG. 8, which is an exemplarytiming diagram illustrating signal shape or waveform at various stagesor sub-circuits of the demodulation circuit 70. The input signal to thedemodulation circuit 70 is illustrated in FIG. 7 as Plot A, showingrising and falling edges from a “high” voltage (V_(High)) on thetransmission antenna 21 to a “low” voltage (V_(Low)) on the transmissionantenna 21. The voltage signal of Plot A may be derived from, forexample, a current (I_(Tx)) sensed at the transmission antenna 21 by oneor more sensors of the sensing system 50. Such rises and falls fromV_(High) to V_(Low) may be caused by load modulation, performed at thewireless receiver system(s) 30, to modulate the wireless power signalsto include the wireless data signals via ASK modulation. As illustrated,the voltage of Plot A does not cleanly rise and fall when the ASKmodulation is performed; rather, a slope or slopes, indicating rate(s)of change, occur during the transitions from V_(High) to V_(Low) andvice versa.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the slope detector 72 includes a high passfilter 71, an operation amplifier (OpAmp) OP_(SD), and an optionalstabilizing circuit 73. The high pass filter 71 is configured to monitorfor higher frequency components of the AC wireless signals and mayinclude, at least, a filter capacitor (C_(HF)) and a filter resistor(R_(HF)). The values for C_(HF) and R_(HF) are selected and/or tuned fora desired cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71. In someexamples, the cutoff frequency for the high pass filter 71 may beselected as a value greater than or equal to about 1-2 kHz, to ensureadequately fast slope detection by the slope detector 72, when theoperating frequency of the system 10 is on the order of MHz (e.g., anoperating frequency of about 6.78 MHz). In some examples, the high passfilter 71 is configured such that harmonic components of the detectedslope are unfiltered. In view of the current sensor 57 of FIG. 5, thehigh pass filter 71 and the low pass filter 55, in combination, mayfunction as a bandpass filter for the demodulation circuit 70.

OP_(SD) is any operational amplifier having an adequate bandwidth forproper signal response, for outputting the slope of V_(Tx), but lowenough to attenuate components of the signal that are based on theoperating frequency and/or harmonics of the operating frequency.Additionally or alternatively, OP_(SD) may be selected to have a smallinput voltage range for V_(Tx), such that OP_(SD) may avoid unnecessaryerror or clipping during large changes in voltage at V_(Tx). Further, aninput bias voltage (V_(Bias)) for OP_(SD) may be selected based onvalues that ensure OP_(SD) will not saturate under boundary conditions(e.g., steepest slopes, largest changes in V_(Tx)). It is to be noted,and is illustrated in Plot B of FIG. 8, that when no slope is detected,the output of the slope detector 72 will be V_(Bias).

As the passive components of the slope detector 72 will set theterminals and zeroes for a transfer function of the slope detector 72,such passive components must be selected to ensure stability. To thatend, if the desired and/or available components selected for C_(HF) andR_(HF) do not adequately set the terminals and zeros for the transferfunction, additional, optional stability capacitor(s) C_(ST) may beplaced in parallel with R_(HF) and stability resistor R_(ST) may beplaced in the input path to OP_(SD).

Output of the slope detector 72 (Plot B representing V_(SD)) mayapproximate the following equation:

$V_{SD} = {{{- R_{HF}}C_{HF}\frac{dV}{dt}} + V_{Bias}}$

Thus, V_(SD) will approximate to V_(Bias), when no change in voltage(slope) is detected, and V_(SD) will output the change in voltage(dV/dt), as scaled by the high pass filter 71, when V_(Tx) rises andfalls between the high voltage and the low voltage of the ASKmodulation. The output of the slope detector 72, as illustrated in PlotB, may be a pulse, showing slope of V_(Tx) rise and fall.

V_(SD) is output to the comparator circuit(s) 74, which is configured toreceive V_(SD), compare V_(SD) to a rising rate of change for thevoltage (V_(SUp)) and a falling rate of change for the voltage(V_(SLo)). If V_(SD) exceeds or meets V_(SUp), then the comparatorcircuit will determine that the change in V_(Tx) meets the risethreshold and indicates a rising edge in the ASK modulation. If V_(SD)goes below or meets V_(SLow), then the comparator circuit will determinethat the change in V_(Tx) meets the fall threshold and indicates afalling edge of the ASK modulation. It is to be noted that V_(SUp) andV_(SLo) may be selected to ensure a symmetrical triggering.

In some examples, such as the comparator circuit 74 illustrated in FIG.6, the comparator circuit 74 may comprise a window comparator circuit.In such examples, the V_(SUp) and V_(SLo) may be set as a fraction ofthe power supply determined by resistor values of the comparator circuit74. In some such examples, resistor values in the comparator circuit maybe configured such that

$V_{Sup} = {V_{in}\lbrack \frac{R_{U\; 2}}{R_{U\; 1} + R_{U\; 2}} \rbrack}$$V_{SLo} = {V_{in}\lbrack \frac{R_{L\; 2}}{R_{L\; 1} + R_{L\; 2}} \rbrack}$

where Vin is a power supply determined by the comparator circuit 74.When V_(SD) exceeds the set limits for V_(Sup) or V_(SLo), thecomparator circuit 74 triggers and pulls the output (V_(Cout)) low.

Further, while the output of the comparator circuit 74 could be outputto the transmission controller 28 and utilized to decode the wirelessdata signals by signaling the rising and falling edges of the ASKmodulation, in some examples, the SR latch 76 may be included to addnoise reduction and/or a filtering mechanism for the slope detector 72.The SR latch 76 may be configured to latch the signal (Plot C) in asteady state to be read by the transmitter controller 28, until a resetis performed. In some examples, the SR latch 76 may perform functions oflatching the comparator signal and serve as an inverter to create anactive high alert out signal. Accordingly, the SR latch 76 may be any SRlatch known in the art configured to sequentially excite when the systemdetects a slope or other modulation excitation. As illustrated, the SRlatch 76 may include NOR gates, wherein such NOR gates may be configuredto have an adequate propagation delay for the signal. For example, theSR latch 76 may include two NOR gates (NOR_(Up), NOR_(Lo)), each NORgate operatively associated with the upper voltage output 78 of thecomparator 74 and the lower voltage output 79 of the comparator 74.

In some examples, such as those illustrated in Plot C, a reset of the SRlatch 76 is triggered when the comparator circuit 74 outputs detectionof V_(SUp) (solid plot on Plot C) and a set of the SR latch 76 istriggered when the comparator circuit 74 outputs V_(SLo) (dashed plot onPlot C). Thus, the reset of the SR latch 76 indicates a falling edge ofthe ASK modulation and the set of the SR latch 76 indicates a risingedge of the ASK modulation. Accordingly, as illustrated in Plot D, therising and falling edges, indicated by the demodulation circuit 70, areinput to the transmission controller 28 as alerts, which are decoded todetermine the received wireless data signal transmitted, via the ASKmodulation, from the wireless receiver system(s) 30.

Referring now to FIG. 9, and with continued reference to FIGS. 1-5, ablock diagram illustrating an embodiment of the power conditioningsystem 40 is illustrated. At the power conditioning system 40,electrical power is received, generally, as a DC power source, via theinput power source 12 itself or an intervening power converter,converting an AC source to a DC source (not shown). A voltage regulator46 receives the electrical power from the input power source 12 and isconfigured to provide electrical power for transmission by the antenna21 and provide electrical power for powering components of the wirelesstransmission system 21. Accordingly, the voltage regulator 46 isconfigured to convert the received electrical power into at least twoelectrical power signals, each at a proper voltage for operation of therespective downstream components: a first electrical power signal toelectrically power any components of the wireless transmission system 20and a second portion conditioned and modified for wireless transmissionto the wireless receiver system 30. As illustrated in FIG. 3, such afirst portion is transmitted to, at least, the sensing system 50, thetransmission controller 28, and the communications system 29; however,the first portion is not limited to transmission to just thesecomponents and can be transmitted to any electrical components of thewireless transmission system 20.

The second portion of the electrical power is provided to an amplifier42 of the power conditioning system 40, which is configured to conditionthe electrical power for wireless transmission by the antenna 21. Theamplifier may function as an invertor, which receives an input DC powersignal from the voltage regulator 46 and generates an AC as output,based, at least in part, on PWM input from the transmission controlsystem 26. The amplifier 42 may be or include, for example, a powerstage invertor, such as a single field effect transistor (FET), a dualfield effect transistor power stage invertor or a quadruple field effecttransistor power stage invertor. The use of the amplifier 42 within thepower conditioning system 40 and, in turn, the wireless transmissionsystem 20 enables wireless transmission of electrical signals havingmuch greater amplitudes than if transmitted without such an amplifier.For example, the addition of the amplifier 42 may enable the wirelesstransmission system 20 to transmit electrical energy as an electricalpower signal having electrical power from about 10 mW to about 500 W. Insome examples, the amplifier 42 may be or may include one or moreclass-E power amplifiers. Class-E power amplifiers are efficiently tunedswitching power amplifiers designed for use at high frequencies (e.g.,frequencies from about 1 MHz to about 1 GHz). Generally, a single-endedclass-E amplifier employs a single-terminal switching element and atuned reactive network between the switch and an output load (e.g., theantenna 21). Class E amplifiers may achieve high efficiency at highfrequencies by only operating the switching element at points of zerocurrent (e.g., on-to-off switching) or zero voltage (off to onswitching). Such switching characteristics may minimize power lost inthe switch, even when the switching time of the device is long comparedto the frequency of operation. However, the amplifier 42 is certainlynot limited to being a class-E power amplifier and may be or may includeone or more of a class D amplifier, a class EF amplifier, an H invertoramplifier, and/or a push-pull invertor, among other amplifiers thatcould be included as part of the amplifier 42.

Turning now to FIG. 10 and with continued reference to, at least, FIGS.1 and 2, the wireless receiver system 30 is illustrated in furtherdetail. The wireless receiver system 30 is configured to receive, atleast, electrical energy, electrical power, electromagnetic energy,and/or electrically transmittable data via near field magnetic couplingfrom the wireless transmission system 20, via the transmission antenna21. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the wireless receiver system 30 includes,at least, the receiver antenna 31, a receiver tuning and filteringsystem 34, a power conditioning system 32, a receiver control system 36,and a voltage isolation circuit 70. The receiver tuning and filteringsystem 34 may be configured to substantially match the electricalimpedance of the wireless transmission system 20. In some examples, thereceiver tuning and filtering system 34 may be configured to dynamicallyadjust and substantially match the electrical impedance of the receiverantenna 31 to a characteristic impedance of the power generator or theload at a driving frequency of the transmission antenna 20.

As illustrated, the power conditioning system 32 includes a rectifier 33and a voltage regulator 35. In some examples, the rectifier 33 is inelectrical connection with the receiver tuning and filtering system 34.The rectifier 33 is configured to modify the received electrical energyfrom an alternating current electrical energy signal to a direct currentelectrical energy signal. In some examples, the rectifier 33 iscomprised of at least one diode. Some non-limiting exampleconfigurations for the rectifier 33 include, but are not limited toincluding, a full wave rectifier, including a center tapped full waverectifier and a full wave rectifier with filter, a half wave rectifier,including a half wave rectifier with filter, a bridge rectifier,including a bridge rectifier with filter, a split supply rectifier, asingle phase rectifier, a three phase rectifier, a voltage doubler, asynchronous voltage rectifier, a controlled rectifier, an uncontrolledrectifier, and a half controlled rectifier. As electronic devices may besensitive to voltage, additional protection of the electronic device maybe provided by clipper circuits or devices. In this respect, therectifier 33 may further include a clipper circuit or a clipper device,which is a circuit or device that removes either the positive half (tophalf), the negative half (bottom half), or both the positive and thenegative halves of an input AC signal. In other words, a clipper is acircuit or device that limits the positive amplitude, the negativeamplitude, or both the positive and the negative amplitudes of the inputAC signal.

Some non-limiting examples of a voltage regulator 35 include, but arenot limited to, including a series linear voltage regulator, a buckconvertor, a low dropout (LDO) regulator, a shunt linear voltageregulator, a step up switching voltage regulator, a step down switchingvoltage regulator, an invertor voltage regulator, a Zener controlledtransistor series voltage regulator, a charge pump regulator, and anemitter follower voltage regulator. The voltage regulator 35 may furtherinclude a voltage multiplier, which is as an electronic circuit ordevice that delivers an output voltage having an amplitude (peak value)that is two, three, or more times greater than the amplitude (peakvalue) of the input voltage. The voltage regulator 35 is in electricalconnection with the rectifier 33 and configured to adjust the amplitudeof the electrical voltage of the wirelessly received electrical energysignal, after conversion to AC by the rectifier 33. In some examples,the voltage regulator 35 may an LDO linear voltage regulator; however,other voltage regulation circuits and/or systems are contemplated. Asillustrated, the direct current electrical energy signal output by thevoltage regulator 35 is received at the load 16 of the electronic device14. In some examples, a portion of the direct current electrical powersignal may be utilized to power the receiver control system 36 and anycomponents thereof; however, it is certainly possible that the receivercontrol system 36, and any components thereof, may be powered and/orreceive signals from the load 16 (e.g., when the load 16 is a batteryand/or other power source) and/or other components of the electronicdevice 14.

The receiver control system 36 may include, but is not limited toincluding, a receiver controller 38, a communications system 39 and amemory 37. The receiver controller 38 may be any electronic controlleror computing system that includes, at least, a processor which performsoperations, executes control algorithms, stores data, retrieves data,gathers data, controls and/or provides communication with othercomponents and/or subsystems associated with the wireless receiversystem 30. The receiver controller 38 may be a single controller or mayinclude more than one controller disposed to control various functionsand/or features of the wireless receiver system 30. Functionality of thereceiver controller 38 may be implemented in hardware and/or softwareand may rely on one or more data maps relating to the operation of thewireless receiver system 30. To that end, the receiver controller 38 maybe operatively associated with the memory 37. The memory may include oneor both of internal memory, external memory, and/or remote memory (e.g.,a database and/or server operatively connected to the receivercontroller 38 via a network, such as, but not limited to, the Internet).The internal memory and/or external memory may include, but are notlimited to including, one or more of a read only memory (ROM), includingprogrammable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM or sometimes but rarely labelled EROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), random access memory(RAM), including dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronousdynamic RAM (SDRAM), single data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRSDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3,DDR4), and graphics double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (GDDRSDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5), a flash memory, a portable memory,and the like. Such memory media are examples of nontransitory computerreadable memory media.

Further, while particular elements of the receiver control system 36 areillustrated as subcomponents and/or circuits (e.g., the memory 37, thecommunications system 39, among other contemplated elements) of thereceiver control system 36, such components may be external of thereceiver controller 38. In some examples, the receiver controller 38 maybe and/or include one or more integrated circuits configured to includefunctional elements of one or both of the receiver controller 38 and thewireless receiver system 30, generally. As used herein, the term“integrated circuits” generally refers to a circuit in which all or someof the circuit elements are inseparably associated and electricallyinterconnected so that it is considered to be indivisible for thepurposes of construction and commerce. Such integrated circuits mayinclude, but are not limited to including, thin-film transistors,thick-film technologies, and/or hybrid integrated circuits.

In some examples, the receiver controller 38 may be a dedicated circuitconfigured to send and receive data at a given operating frequency. Forexample, the receiver controller 38 may be a tagging or identifierintegrated circuit, such as, but not limited to, an NFC tag and/orlabelling integrated circuit. Examples of such NFC tags and/or labellingintegrated circuits include the NTAG® family of integrated circuitsmanufactured by NXP Semiconductors N.V. However, the communicationssystem 39 is certainly not limited to these example components and, insome examples, the communications system 39 may be implemented withanother integrated circuit (e.g., integrated with the receivercontroller 38), and/or may be another transceiver of or operativelyassociated with one or both of the electronic device 14 and the wirelessreceiver system 30, among other contemplated communication systemsand/or apparatus. Further, in some examples, functions of thecommunications system 39 may be integrated with the receiver controller38, such that the controller modifies the inductive field between theantennas 21, 31 to communicate in the frequency band of wireless powertransfer operating frequency.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for another wireless power transfer system110A, which may utilize one or more wireless transmission systems 120and one or more wireless receiver systems 30, each wireless receiversystem 30 associated with an electronic device 14. Similar to thesystems 10 described above, one or more antenna 121, 221 of eachwireless transmission system 120 may be configured to function as arepeater antenna and/or a transmission antenna. The transmission antenna121 of the transmission system(s) 120 may comprise or function asmultiple transmission antennas, capable of transmitting wireless powerto two or more wireless receiver systems 30, transmitter connectedwireless transmission systems 120, or combinations thereof.

In wireless power transfer systems, wherein a high resonant frequency isrequired (e.g. on the order of about 1 MHz to about 1 GHz), the size ofan antenna may be, relatively, limited when compared to lower frequencysolutions, due to self-resonant frequency, coil sensitivity, amplifierdriving capabilities, and/or low coupling efficiency concerns. In someapplications, such as, but not limited to, wireless power transfersystems in which a resonant frequency is above about 5 MHz, these issuesmay make it difficult for antenna designers to create proper coilshaving a two-dimensional area greater than, about 200 mm by 200 mm.However, using similarly sized antennas, but coupling each of thesesimilar antennas to a common power amplifier/power system (e.g., thepower conditioning system 40) may allow for larger power transfer areasand/or power transfer areas for multiple devices, coupled at higherresonant frequencies. Such designs allow for a system having two or moretransmission antennas or antenna portions that are driven by the sametransmitter power amplifier in a uniform and efficient way that enablesefficient, single and/or simultaneous power transfer in a lower-costmanner that may limit a bill of materials.

In view of the system 110 of FIG. 11, such multiple antenna designs mayprovide a transmitting device with multiple “sub-areas” that eitherprovide the benefit of a wider power transmission area or allow formultiple devices to be powered by a single transmission system. Further,one or more of such sub-areas may be configured as repeaters to receivewireless power from another wireless power transmitter 120, forsubsequent transmission to one or more of a wireless receiver system,another wireless transmission system 120, or combinations thereof.

Turning now to FIGS. 12A-B and with continued reference to FIG. 11, asimplified schematic diagram of the wireless transmission system 120A isillustrated. The transmission antenna 121 may include multiple antennaportions 221A, 221B, which functionally behave as individual antennas21, while connected to a common power conditioning system 40. Asillustrated in FIGS. 12A-B, the transmission antenna 121A includes thefirst antenna portion 221A, which includes a first terminal 161 and asecond terminal 162, and the second antenna portion 221B, which includesa third terminal 163 and a fourth terminal 164. The amplifier 42includes a first power terminal 171 and a second power terminal 172. Asillustrated, to achieve the series antenna-to-amplifier connection, thefirst terminal 61 of the first antenna portion 221A is in electricalconnection with the first power terminal 171, the fourth terminal of thesecond antenna portion 221B is in electrical connection with the secondpower terminal 72, and the second terminal 62 of the first antennaportion 221A is in electrical connection with the third terminal 63 ofthe second antenna portion 221B, thereby establishing the seriesconnection between the transmission antenna portions 221A, 221B, withrespect to the amplifier 42.

As discussed above, any of the transmission antennas 21, 121 and/orantenna portions 221 may be configured to function as one or more of atransmission antenna for transmission to a wireless receiver system 30,a repeater antenna for repeating AC wireless signals to another wirelesstransmission system 20, 120, or combinations thereof. Accordingly, insome examples, the antenna portions 221 may be configured such that oneor both of the antenna portions 221A, 221B are configured or tuned tofunction as a repeater antenna. To that end, the wireless transmissionsystem 120 may include a repeater tuning system 224, which may be partof or independent from the transmission tuning system 24 of the wirelesstransmission system 120. In some examples, the repeater tuning system224 may include one or more passive components (e.g., capacitors)configured and/or tuned to isolate the magnetic fields generated by eachof the antenna portions 221, 221B from one another. Such tuning isperformed to limit interference or crosstalk between the two antennaportions 221A, 221B.

To isolate the magnetic fields, the repeater tuning system 224 may beconfigured to phase shift the AC wireless signal when it passes, inseries, from the first antenna portion 221A to the second antennaportion 221B. Such a phase shift may be configured to shift the waveformof an AC wireless signal of first antenna portion 221A about 90 degreesfrom the phase of the waveform of an AC wireless signal of the secondantenna portion 221B. By phase shifting the two respective AC wirelesssignals of the first and second antenna portions 221A, 221B by about 90degrees, the repeater tuning system 224 may prevent loss or interferencebetween transmitted signals or fields from either antenna portion 221A,221B. Further, such phase shifting may aid in functionally isolating thefirst antenna portion 221A and the second antenna portion 221B, suchthat each portion 221A, 221B may functionally act as an independenttransmitter and/or repeater antenna 21. Additionally or alternatively,the repeater tuning system 224 and/or components thereof may be utilizedto filter out high frequency harmonics from the AC wireless signals.

FIG. 13A illustrates a top perspective view of an example wirelesstransmission system 120, in view of FIGS. 11=12, wherein the wirelesstransmission system 120 is housed by a transmitter housing 114. Thetransmitter housing 114 may be any mechanical body capable ofsupporting, enclosing, and/or otherwise positioning the wirelesstransmission system 120, for use in transmitting AC wireless signals toone or more of a wireless receiver system 30, a wireless transmissionsystem 20, 120, or combinations thereof. As illustrated, the particularwireless transmission system 120 of FIG. 13A is an input connectedwireless transmission system 120, as it is connected to the input powersource 12.

FIG. 13B illustrates the housed wireless transmission system 120, butwith a top surface of the transmitter housing 114 removed or madeinvisible. Thus, FIG. 12B shows the transmitter housing 114 supportingthe transmission antenna 121 and providing space and enclosure forcircuit elements of the wireless transmission system 120, such as, butnot limited to, the transmission tuning system 24, the repeater tuningsystem 24, the sensing system 50, the transmission control system 26,and the power conditioning system 40.

The wireless transmission systems 120 are configured to be modularwireless power transmitters, reconfigurable wireless power transmittersand/or modular power transmitting pads for powering and/or chargingelectronic devices. Any number of wireless transmission systems 120 maybe modularly configured, with one another, to produce any size or scaleof wireless power networks, for powering and/or charging any number ofelectronic devices 14 via wireless receiver systems 30. The wirelesstransmission systems 120 may utilize their capabilities to function asrepeaters, wherein the repeater functionality enables modularity byextending the power or charging area, without need for additionalconnections to an input power source 12. FIGS. 14-16, below, representnon-limiting examples of modularly configured configurations of thewireless power transfer system 110.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are representative of a first configuration 110B ofthe wireless power transfer system 110. FIG. 14A is a perspective viewof the wireless power transfer system 110B having multiple electronicdevices 14, configured with wireless receiver systems 30, positionedsuch that they are capable of receiving AC wireless signals from thewireless transmission system 120. In the first configuration 110B, awireless power transmission system 120 includes first and second antennaportions 221A, 221B and each are functioning as wireless transmissionantennas, thus, coupling and transmitting AC wireless signals towireless receiver systems 30A, 30B, each associated, respectively, withelectronic devices 14A, 14B. The wireless transmission system 120 iscapable of functioning to power or charge at least two wireless receiversystems, utilizing a single transmission system 120.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are representative of a second configuration 110C ofthe wireless power transfer system 110, wherein FIG. 15A is a topperspective view of the wireless transmission systems 120 and theelectronic devices 14 and FIG. 15B is a schematic illustration ofelectronic components of the same. The configuration 110C includes anetwork of multiple wireless transmission systems 120A, 120B, 120C, 120Dall functioning, in connection, as a common wireless power transmissionsystem for powering the wireless receiver systems 30 of the electronicdevices 14. As illustrated, the first wireless transmission system 120Ais connected to the input power source 12 and, thus, is an input sourceconnected wireless transmission system 120, while all of the remainingwireless transmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D are not connected to theinput power source 12 and, thus, are transmitter connected wirelesstransmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D.

As best illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIG. 15B, the wirelesstransmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D are configured as a network oftransmitter/repeater systems, receiving input power from the inputsource connected wireless transmission system 120A and repeating the ACwireless signal throughout, for ultimate transmission to a wirelessreceiver system 30. More specifically, as illustrated, a signal path ofthe AC wireless signals begins at the circuitry of the first wirelesstransmission system, travels to the first and second antenna portions221A, 221B, wherein the second portion 221B transmits the AC wirelesssignals to a first wireless receiver system 30A. The first antennaportion 221A is configured to transmit the AC wireless signals, bycoupling with a fourth antenna portion 221D of the second wirelesstransmission system 120B. The fourth antenna portion 221D receives theAC wireless signals, processes the AC wireless signals in itstransmission tuning system 24 and/or repeater tuning system 224, andprovides AC wireless power signals to the third antenna portion 221C ofthe second wireless transmission system 120C.

The third antenna portion 221C transmits the AC wireless signals to asixth antenna portion 221F of the third wireless transmission system120C. The sixth antenna portion 221F receives the AC wireless signals,processes the AC wireless signals in its transmission tuning system 24and/or repeater tuning system 224, and provides AC wireless powersignals to the fifth antenna portion 221E of the third wirelesstransmission system 120C. The fifth antenna portion 221E, as illustratedin the configuration 110C, may both repeat the AC wireless signals tothe fourth wireless transmission system 120D and provide the AC wirelesssignals to a second wireless transmission system 30C, with which thefifth antenna portion 221E is coupled. While illustrated as coupled withthe fifth antenna portion 221E, it is certainly possible that the secondwireless receiver system 30C may couple with any of the antenna portions221B-G.

The repeated AC wireless signal from the fifth portion 221E may bereceived by an eighth antenna portion 221H of the fourth wirelesstransmission system 120D. As illustrated, because there are noadditional wireless transmission systems 120 in the signal path of thefourth wireless transmission system 120D, the signal path may end/loopback at the seventh antenna portion 221G; however, if a receiver system30 or additional wireless transmission system 120 were placed withincoupling range of one or both of the seventh and eight antenna portions221G, 221H, the portions 221G, 221H would be capable of transmitting theAC wireless signals further.

While the individual wireless transmission systems 120 are illustratedwithout any visible mechanical connections, to, for example, hold thewireless transmission systems 120 in place to form a larger powering orcharging area, it is certainly contemplated that one or more mechanicalfeatures may be integrated with the housing(s) 114 to enable positioningfeatures and/or to maintain positioning of the wireless transmissionsystems 120, to facilitate proper wireless power transmission and/orwireless power repetition. Such mechanical features may include, but arenot limited to including, “male” and “female” mechanical indentsconfigured to hold the wireless transmission systems 120 in place,latches and/or locks configured to connect two or more wirelesstransmission systems 120, magnetic connectors to attract a firstwireless transmission system 120 to a second wireless transmissionsystem 120, mechanical connectors for affixing a wireless transmissionsystem 120 to an external surface (e.g., a desktop, a table top, acounter top, and the like), among other contemplated mechanicalconnection features utilized to position one or more wirelesstransmission systems 120 in place to facilitate proper wireless powertransfer and/or repetition.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are representative of a third configuration 110D ofthe wireless power transfer system 110, wherein FIG. 16A is a topperspective view of the wireless transmission systems 120 and theelectronic devices 14 and FIG. 16B is a schematic illustration ofelectronic components of the same. The configuration 110D includes anetwork of multiple wireless transmission systems 120A, 120B, 120C, 120Dall functioning, in connection, as a common wireless power transmissionsystem for powering the wireless receiver systems 30 of the electronicdevices 14. As illustrated, the first wireless transmission system 120Ais connected to the input power source 12 and, thus, is an input sourceconnected wireless transmission system 120, while all of the remainingwireless transmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D are not connected to theinput power source 12 and, thus, are transmitter connected wirelesstransmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D.

In FIGS. 16A, B, the wireless transmission systems 120B, 120C, 120D areconfigured as a network of transmitter/repeater systems, receiving inputpower from the input source connected wireless transmission system 120Aand repeating the AC wireless signal throughout, for ultimatetransmission to a wireless receiver system 30. More specifically, asillustrated, a signal path of the AC wireless signals begins at thecircuitry of the first wireless transmission system 120A, travels to thefirst and second antenna portions 221A, 221B, wherein the second portion221B repeats the AC wireless signals to a fourth antenna portion 221D ofthe second wireless receiver system 120B. The fourth antenna portion221D receives the AC wireless signals, transmits the AC wireless signalsto a receiver antenna 31A of a wireless receiver system 30A, processesthe AC wireless signals in its transmission tuning system 24 and/orrepeater tuning system 24, and provides AC wireless power signals to thethird antenna portion 221C of the second wireless transmission system120B.

The third antenna portion 221C is configured to receive the processed ACwireless signals from the fourth antenna portion 221D, transmit the ACwireless signals to a second wireless receiver system 30B, and repeatthe AC wireless signals to a sixth antenna portion 221F. The AC wirelesssignals, received by the sixth antenna portion 221F, are processed by atuning system 24 or repeater tuning system 224 associated with the sixthantenna portion 221F and received by a fifth antenna portion 221E. Thefifth antenna portion 221 repeats the AC wireless signals to an eighthantenna portion 221H. The AC wireless signals, received by the eighthantenna portion 221H, are processed by a tuning system 24 and/orrepeater tuning system 224 associated with the eighth antenna portion221H and received by a seventh antenna portion 221G.

The AC wireless signals received by the seventh antenna portion 221G aretransmitted to a third wireless receiver system 30C. As illustrated,because there are no additional wireless transmission systems 120 in thesignal path of the fourth wireless transmission system 120D, the signalpath may end/loop back at the seventh antenna portion 221G; however, ifa receiver system 30 or additional wireless transmission system 120 wereplaced within coupling range of one or both of the seventh and eightantenna portions 221G, 221H, the portions 221G, 221H would be capable oftransmitting the AC wireless signals further.

It is to be noted that, while the wireless transmission systems 120 areillustrated in a positioning such that electronic devices 14 are locatedproximate to a top face of the wireless transmission systems(s) 120, forthe purposes of wireless power transfer to the devices 16, theelectronic devices 14 need not, solely, be positioned atop the wirelesstransmission system(s) 120 to receive electrical signals from one ormore wireless transmission system(s) 120. Alternatively, the wirelesstransmission system(s) 120 may be configured such that an electronicdevice 14 receives wireless signals from one or more wirelesstransmission system(s) 120 when the electronic device(s) 14 arepositioned at one or more of a top surface of one or more wirelesstransmission system(s) 120, adjacent to one or more wirelesstransmission system(s) 120, beneath one or more wireless transmissionsystem(s) 120, or combinations thereof, among other contemplatedproximate positionings of one or more electronic device(s) 16, withrespect to one or more wireless transmission system(s) 120.

While the electronic devices 14 in FIGS. 14-16, as illustrated, resemblecomputer peripherals, such as input devices like a mouse or keyboard,the electronic devices 14 that are capable of being powered and/orcharged by the modular wireless transmission systems 120 are certainlynot limited to computer peripherals. Accordingly, the modular wirelesstransmission systems 120 may be configured to power other devices, suchas audio devices, video devices, mobile devices, game controllers,conference equipment, among other electronic devices mentioned abovewith reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a top view of an embodiment of the transmission antenna 121,which may be utilized as the transmission antenna 21 and may includefirst and second antenna or coil portions 221A, 221B. As discussedabove, the transmission antenna 121 may be configured such that each ofthe antenna portions 221A, 221B function as separate antennas;alternatively, the antenna portions 221A, 221B may be configured toextend a charging and/or powering envelope /or improve uniformity ofmagnetic field distribution, relative to the surface area of thetransmission antenna 121. Further, as discussed above, one or morecomponents may, electrically, intersect the signal path between thefirst and second antenna portions 221A, 221B, at, for example, alocation between the second and third terminals 162, 163. Suchcomponents may include, for example, the repeater tuning system 224.

While the transmission antenna 121 of FIG. 17 is referenced as a“transmission antenna,” it is certainly possible that a like or similarantenna to the transmission antenna 121, having a common and/or similargeometry to the transmission antenna 121, may be utilized as a wirelessreceiver antenna 31. Such use of the antenna 121 as a receiver antennamay be useful in a wireless power transfer scenario in which a largewireless power receiving area is desired, such receiving area having asubstantially uniform coupling area for power receipt from one or morewireless transmission systems 20, 120.

Each of the first and second antenna portions 221A, 221B include aplurality of turns 80A, 80B, respectively. Each of the plurality ofturns 80 includes at least one inner turn 84 and at least one outer turn82. At least one of the inner turns has an inner turn width 85, and atleast one outer turn 82 has an outer turn width 83. While the inner turnwidth 85 and the outer turn width 83 may vary along the circumferentiallocations of any of the turns 80, generally, inner turn widths 85 areless than outer turn widths 83 at similar and/or parallel points onsubstantially concentric turns of the antenna portion 221. While thefirst and second coil portions 221A, 221B are illustrated with multipleturns 80, it is certainly possible for either of the first and secondcoil portions 221A, 221B to function, for the purposes of thetransmission antenna 121 and/or the system 120, while having only asingle turn.

To create the coil geometry for one or both of the antenna 121 and theantenna portions 221, wherein each antenna portion 221 may befunctionally independent, the antenna 121 includes one or more wirecrossovers, which electrically connect two turns of the antenna 121,while insulating said turns from one or more proximal turns. Forexample, the at least one inner turn 84 may be electrically connected tothe at least one outer turn via a crossover 86. Additionally oralternatively, current in the at least one outer turn 82 may flow from afirst outer turn 82 to a second turn 82 via a crossover 86. Thecrossovers 86 allow for the current path in the antenna 121 to fullytraverse each of the antenna portions 221, prior to entering theopposing antenna portion 221.

To illustrate and describe the current path in the transmission antenna121, locations A-G are marked on the first antenna portion 221A. Theelectrical current enters the first antenna portion 221 at or proximateto the first terminal 161, as denoted by the location A on thetransmission antenna 121. The current flows through the outermost turnof the outer turns 82A, until it reaches a first crossover 86A, whereinthe wire crosses over into a second turn of the outer turns 82A that isinward of the outermost turn 82A, as depicted at location B. The currentcontinues to flow in the middle turn 82A until it reaches anothercrossover 86, wherein the wire and, thus, current crosses over into theinnermost turn of the outer turns 82A, as depicted at location C. Thecurrent continues to flow through to location D, wherein it encountersanother crossover and enters the inner turn 84A. The current then flowsentirely through the inner turn 84A and exits back at the crossover itenters, travelling into the innermost turn of the outer turns 82A, asdepicted at location E. The current then will reverse the travel it madeinward, flowing from point E to point F, crossing over into the middleouter turn 82A, to the location G, crossing over into the outermostouter turn 82A, and eventually arriving at the second terminal 162.Then, in some examples, the current may flows to one or more of atransmission tuning system 24, a repeater tuning system 224, the secondantenna portion 221B, or combinations thereof, as the current travelsfrom the second terminal 162 to the third terminal 163. The currententers the second antenna portion 221B at the third terminal 63 andsimilarly will flow outward to inward then back outward to the fourthterminal 64, in reverse but like manner to the current flow of thecurrent flow through the first antenna portion 221A, as describedherein.

In some examples, the transmission antenna 121 may be a wire woundantenna comprising a conductive wire formed in a shape with thecharacteristics disclosed herein. In some such examples, the conductivewire may be a continuous conductive wire, extending from the firstterminal 161 to the fourth terminal 164. It is to be contemplated that acontinuous wire includes wires that have a tap or exterior connector atany location, such as, but not limited to, between the second and thirdterminals 62, 63. However, the antenna 121 is not limited to beingformed as a wire wound antenna and the transmission antenna 121 may beimplemented as a printed circuit board (PCB), flexible printed circuitboard (FPC), and/or any other printed or non-printed antennaimplementation.

As illustrated, the crossovers 86 are positioned at portions where afirst portion of the conductive wire has to cross over a second portionof the conductive wire, without forming an electrical connection betweenthe first and second portions of the conductive wire Therefore, aninsulator 88 may be positioned between the first and second portions ofthe conductive wire, such that when a crossover 86 occurs, there is noconduction or interruption of the aforementioned signal path at acrossover 86.

By utilizing the transmission antenna of FIG. 17 and the intelligentplacement of the crossovers 86, the antenna 121 may effectively functionas multiple antennas capable of transmission to multiple receivers.Further, due to the spacing of the inner and outer turns 84, 82, a moreuniform charge envelope may be achieved, leading to greater spatialfreedom for the receiver when placed relative to the transmissionantenna 121. Thus, having a higher density of turns on the outer edgesof the antenna 121 may prevent dead spots or inconsistent coupling, whena receiver is positioned proximate to an outer edge of the wirelesstransmission system 120.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment of the receiverantenna 31 that may be used with any of the systems, methods, and/orapparatus disclosed herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna31, is a flat spiral coil configuration. Non-limiting examples can befound in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,941,743, 9,960,628, 9,941,743 all to Peraltaet al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,948,129, 10,063,100 to Singh et al.; U.S. Pat.No. 9,941,590 to Luzinski; U.S. Pat. No. 9,960,629 to Rajagopalan etal.; and U.S. Patent App. Nos. 2017/0040107, 2017/0040105, 2017/0040688to Peralta et al.; all of which are assigned to the assignee of thepresent application and incorporated fully herein by reference.

In addition, the antenna 31 may be constructed having amulti-layer-multi-turn (MLMT) construction in which at least oneinsulator is positioned between a plurality of conductors. Non-limitingexamples of antennas having an MLMT construction that may beincorporated within the wireless transmission system(s) 20 and/or thewireless receiver system(s) 30 may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,610,530,8,653,927, 8,680,960, 8,692,641, 8,692,642, 8,698,590, 8,698,591,8,707,546, 8,710,948, 8,803,649, 8,823,481, 8,823,482, 8,855,786,8,898,885, 9,208,942, 9,232,893, and 9,300,046 to Singh et al., all ofwhich are assigned to the assignee of the present application areincorporated fully herein. These are merely exemplary antenna examples;however, it is contemplated that the antennas 21, 31 may be any antennacapable of the aforementioned higher power, high frequency wirelesspower transfer.

FIG. 19 is an example block diagram for a method 1000 of designing asystem for wirelessly transferring one or more of electrical energy,electrical power, electromagnetic energy, and electronic data, inaccordance with the systems, methods, and apparatus of the presentdisclosure. To that end, the method 1000 may be utilized to design asystem in accordance with any disclosed embodiments of the system 10,110 and any components thereof.

At block 1200, the method 1000 includes designing a wirelesstransmission system for use in the system 10, 110. The wirelesstransmission system designed at block 1200 may be designed in accordancewith one or more of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of thewireless transmission system 20, 120, in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof. Block 1200 may beimplemented as a method 1200 for designing a wireless transmissionsystem.

Turning now to FIG. 20 and with continued reference to the method 1000of FIG. 18, an example block diagram for the method 1200 for designing awireless transmission system is illustrated. The wireless transmissionsystem designed by the method 1200 may be designed in accordance withone or more of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of thewireless transmission system 20, 120 in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof. The method 1200 includesdesigning and/or selecting a transmission antenna for the wirelesstransmission system, as illustrated in block 1210. The designed and/orselected transmission antenna may be designed and/or selected inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the transmission antenna 21, 121, 221, in whole or inpart and including any components thereof. The method 1200 also includesdesigning and/or tuning a transmission tuning system for the wirelesstransmission system, as illustrated in block 1220. Such designing and/ortuning may be utilized for, but not limited to being utilized for,impedance matching, as discussed in more detail above. The designedand/or tuned transmission tuning system may be designed and/or tuned inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of wireless transmission system 20, 120, in whole or in partand, optionally, including any components thereof.

The method 1200 further includes designing a power conditioning systemfor the wireless transmission system 20, 120, as illustrated in block1230. The power conditioning system designed may be designed with any ofa plurality of power output characteristic considerations, such as, butnot limited to, power transfer efficiency, maximizing a transmission gap(e.g., the gap 17), increasing output voltage to a receiver, mitigatingpower losses during wireless power transfer, increasing power outputwithout degrading fidelity for data communications, optimizing poweroutput for multiple coils receiving power from a common circuit and/oramplifier, among other contemplated power output characteristicconsiderations. The power conditioning system may be designed inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the power conditioning system 40, in whole or in partand, optionally, including any components thereof. Further, at block1240, the method 1200 may involve determining and/or optimizing aconnection, and any associated connection components, between the inputpower source 12 and the power conditioning system that is designed atblock 1230. Such determining and/or optimizing may include selecting andimplementing protection mechanisms and/or apparatus, selecting and/orimplementing voltage protection mechanisms, among other things.

The method 1200 further includes designing and/or programing atransmission control system of the wireless transmission system of themethod 1000, as illustrated in block 1250. The designed transmissioncontrol system may be designed in accordance with one or more of theaforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the transmission controlsystem 26, in whole or in part and, optionally, including any componentsthereof. Such components thereof include, but are not limited toincluding, the sensing system 50, the driver 41, the transmissioncontroller 28, the memory 27, the communications system 29, the thermalsensing system 52, the object sensing system 54, the receiver sensingsystem 56, the other sensor(s) 58, the gate voltage regulator 43, thePWM generator 41, the frequency generator 348, in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof.

Returning now to FIG. 20, at block 1300, the method 1000 includesdesigning a wireless receiver system for use in the system 10, 110. Thewireless transmission system designed at block 1300 may be designed inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the wireless receiver system 30 in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof. Block 1300 may beimplemented as a method 1300 for designing a wireless receiver system.

Turning now to FIG. 21 and with continued reference to the method 1000of FIG. 19, an example block diagram for the method 1300 for designing awireless receiver system is illustrated. The wireless receiver systemdesigned by the method 1300 may be designed in accordance with one ormore of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the wirelessreceiver system 30 in whole or in part and, optionally, including anycomponents thereof. The method 1300 includes designing and/or selectinga receiver antenna for the wireless receiver system, as illustrated inblock 1310. The designed and/or selected receiver antenna may bedesigned and/or selected in accordance with one or more of theaforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the receiver antenna 31, inwhole or in part and including any components thereof. The method 1300includes designing and/or tuning a receiver tuning system for thewireless receiver system, as illustrated in block 1320. Such designingand/or tuning may be utilized for, but not limited to being utilizedfor, impedance matching, as discussed in more detail above. The designedand/or tuned receiver tuning system may be designed and/or tuned inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the receiver tuning and filtering system 34 in whole orin part and/or, optionally, including any components thereof.

The method 1300 further includes designing a power conditioning systemfor the wireless receiver system, as illustrated in block 1330. Thepower conditioning system may be designed with any of a plurality ofpower output characteristic considerations, such as, but not limited to,power transfer efficiency, maximizing a transmission gap (e.g., the gap17), increasing output voltage to a receiver, mitigating power lossesduring wireless power transfer, increasing power output withoutdegrading fidelity for data communications, optimizing power output formultiple coils receiving power from a common circuit and/or amplifier,among other contemplated power output characteristic considerations. Thepower conditioning system may be designed in accordance with one or moreof the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the powerconditioning system 32 in whole or in part and, optionally, includingany components thereof. Further, at block 1340, the method 1300 mayinvolve determining and/or optimizing a connection, and any associatedconnection components, between the load 16 and the power conditioningsystem of block 1330. Such determining may include selecting andimplementing protection mechanisms and/or apparatus, selecting and/orimplementing voltage protection mechanisms, among other things.

The method 1300 further includes designing and/or programing a receivercontrol system of the wireless receiver system of the method 1300, asillustrated in block 1350. The designed receiver control system may bedesigned in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned anddisclosed embodiments of the receiver control system 36 in whole or inpart and, optionally, including any components thereof. Such componentsthereof include, but are not limited to including, the receivercontroller 38, the memory 37, and the communications system 39, in wholeor in part and, optionally, including any components thereof.

Returning now to the method 1000 of FIG. 19, the method 1000 furtherincludes, at block 1400, optimizing and/or tuning both the wirelesstransmission system and the wireless receiver system for wireless powertransfer. Such optimizing and/or tuning includes, but is not limited toincluding, controlling and/or tuning parameters of system components tomatch impedance, optimize and/or set voltage and/or power levels of anoutput power signal, among other things and in accordance with any ofthe disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus herein. Further, themethod 1000 includes optimizing and/or tuning one or both of thewireless transmission system and the wireless receiver system for datacommunications, in view of system characteristics necessary for wirelesspower transfer. Such optimizing and/or tuning includes, but is notlimited to including, optimizing power characteristics for concurrenttransmission of electrical power signals and electrical data signals,tuning quality factors of antennas for different transmission schemes,among other things and in accordance with any of the disclosed systems,methods, and apparatus herein.

FIG. 22 is an example block diagram for a method 2000 for manufacturinga system for wirelessly transferring one or both of electrical powersignals and electrical data signals, in accordance with the systems,methods, and apparatus of the present disclosure. To that end, themethod 2000 may be utilized to manufacture a system in accordance withany disclosed embodiments of the system 10, 110 and any componentsthereof.

At block 2200, the method 2000 includes manufacturing a wirelesstransmission system for use in the system 10, 110. The wirelesstransmission system manufactured at block 2200 may be designed inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the wireless transmission system 20, 120 in whole or inpart and, optionally, including any components thereof. Block 2200 maybe implemented as a method 2200 for manufacturing a wirelesstransmission system.

Turning now to FIG. 23 and with continued reference to the method 2000of FIG. 21, an example block diagram for the method 2200 formanufacturing a wireless transmission system is illustrated. Thewireless transmission system manufactured by the method 2200 may bemanufactured in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned anddisclosed embodiments of the wireless transmission system 20, 120 inwhole or in part and, optionally, including any components thereof. Themethod 2200 includes manufacturing a transmission antenna for thewireless transmission system, as illustrated in block 2210. Themanufactured transmission system may be built and/or tuned in accordancewith one or more of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of thetransmission antenna 21, in whole or in part and including anycomponents thereof. The method 2200 also includes building and/or tuninga transmission tuning system for the wireless transmission system, asillustrated in block 2220. Such building and/or tuning may be utilizedfor, but not limited to being utilized for, impedance matching, asdiscussed in more detail above. The built and/or tuned transmissiontuning system may be designed and/or tuned in accordance with one ormore of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the transmissiontuning system 24, in whole or in part and, optionally, including anycomponents thereof.

The method 2200 further includes selecting and/or connecting a powerconditioning system for the wireless transmission system, as illustratedin block 2230. The power conditioning system manufactured may bedesigned with any of a plurality of power output characteristicconsiderations, such as, but not limited to, power transfer efficiency,maximizing a transmission gap (e.g., the gap 17), increasing outputvoltage to a receiver, mitigating power losses during wireless powertransfer, increasing power output without degrading fidelity for datacommunications, optimizing power output for multiple coils receivingpower from a common circuit and/or amplifier, among other contemplatedpower output characteristic considerations. The power conditioningsystem may be designed in accordance with one or more of theaforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the power conditioningsystem 40 in whole or in part and, optionally, including any componentsthereof. Further, at block 2240, the method 2200 involve determiningand/or optimizing a connection, and any associated connectioncomponents, between the input power source 12 and the power conditioningsystem of block 2230. Such determining may include selecting andimplementing protection mechanisms and/or apparatus, selecting and/orimplementing voltage protection mechanisms, among other things.

The method 2200 further includes assembling and/or programing atransmission control system of the wireless transmission system of themethod 2000, as illustrated in block 2250. The assembled transmissioncontrol system may be assembled and/or programmed in accordance with oneor more of the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of thetransmission control system 26 in whole or in part and, optionally,including any components thereof. Such components thereof include, butare not limited to including, the sensing system 50, the driver 41, thetransmission controller 28, the memory 27, the communications system 29,the thermal sensing system 52, the object sensing system 54, thereceiver sensing system 56, the other sensor(s) 58, the gate voltageregulator 43, the PWM generator 41, the frequency generator 348, inwhole or in part and, optionally, including any components thereof.

Returning now to FIG. 22, at block 2300, the method 2000 includesmanufacturing a wireless receiver system for use in the system 10. Thewireless transmission system manufactured at block 2300 may be designedin accordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the wireless receiver system 30 in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof. Block 2300 may beimplemented as a method 2300 for manufacturing a wireless receiversystem.

Turning now to FIG. 24 and with continued reference to the method 2000of FIG. 13, an example block diagram for the method 2300 formanufacturing a wireless receiver system is illustrated. The wirelessreceiver system manufactured by the method 2300 may be designed inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the wireless receiver system 30 in whole or in part and,optionally, including any components thereof. The method 2300 includesmanufacturing a receiver antenna for the wireless receiver system, asillustrated in block 2310. The manufactured receiver antenna may bemanufactured, designed, and/or selected in accordance with one or moreof the aforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the receiver antenna31 in whole or in part and including any components thereof. The method2300 includes building and/or tuning a receiver tuning system for thewireless receiver system, as illustrated in block 2320. Such buildingand/or tuning may be utilized for, but not limited to being utilizedfor, impedance matching, as discussed in more detail above. The builtand/or tuned receiver tuning system may be designed and/or tuned inaccordance with one or more of the aforementioned and disclosedembodiments of the receiver tuning and filtering system 34 in whole orin part and, optionally, including any components thereof.

The method 2300 further includes selecting and/or connecting a powerconditioning system for the wireless receiver system, as illustrated inblock 2330. The power conditioning system designed may be designed withany of a plurality of power output characteristic considerations, suchas, but not limited to, power transfer efficiency, maximizing atransmission gap (e.g., the gap 17), increasing output voltage to areceiver, mitigating power losses during wireless power transfer,increasing power output without degrading fidelity for datacommunications, optimizing power output for multiple coils receivingpower from a common circuit and/or amplifier, among other contemplatedpower output characteristic considerations. The power conditioningsystem may be designed in accordance with one or more of theaforementioned and disclosed embodiments of the power conditioningsystem 32 in whole or in part and, optionally, including any componentsthereof. Further, at block 2340, the method 2300 may involve determiningand/or optimizing a connection, and any associated connectioncomponents, between the load 16 and the power conditioning system ofblock 2330. Such determining may include selecting and implementingprotection mechanisms and/or apparatus, selecting and/or implementingvoltage protection mechanisms, among other things.

The method 2300 further includes assembling and/or programing a receivercontrol system of the wireless receiver system of the method 2300, asillustrated in block 2350. The assembled receiver control system may bedesigned in accordance with one or more of the aforementioned anddisclosed embodiments of the receiver control system 36 in whole or inpart and, optionally, including any components thereof. Such componentsthereof include, but are not limited to including, the receivercontroller 38, the memory 37, and the communications system 39, in wholeor in part and, optionally, including any components thereof.

Returning now to the method 2000 of FIG. 22, the method 2000 furtherincludes, at block 2400, optimizing and/or tuning both the wirelesstransmission system and the wireless receiver system for wireless powertransfer. Such optimizing and/or tuning includes, but is not limited toincluding, controlling and/or tuning parameters of system components tomatch impedance, optimize and/or configure voltage and/or power levelsof an output power signal, among other things and in accordance with anyof the disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus herein. Further, themethod 2000 includes optimizing and/or tuning one or both of thewireless transmission system and the wireless receiver system for datacommunications, in view of system characteristics necessary for wirelesspower transfer, as illustrated at block 2500. Such optimizing and/ortuning includes, but is not limited to including, optimizing powercharacteristics for concurrent transmission of electrical power signalsand electrical data signals, tuning quality factors of antennas fordifferent transmission schemes, among other things and in accordancewith any of the disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus herein.

The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein are designed tooperate in an efficient, stable and reliable manner to satisfy a varietyof operating and environmental conditions. The systems, methods, and/orapparatus disclosed herein are designed to operate in a wide range ofthermal and mechanical stress environments so that data and/orelectrical energy is transmitted efficiently and with minimal loss. Inaddition, the system 10, 110 may be designed with a small form factorusing a fabrication technology that allows for scalability, and at acost that is amenable to developers and adopters. In addition, thesystems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein may be designed tooperate over a wide range of frequencies to meet the requirements of awide range of applications.

In an embodiment, a ferrite shield may be incorporated within theantenna structure to improve antenna performance. Selection of theferrite shield material may be dependent on the operating frequency asthe complex magnetic permeability (μ=μ′−j*μ″) is frequency dependent.The material may be a polymer, a sintered flexible ferrite sheet, arigid shield, or a hybrid shield, wherein the hybrid shield comprises arigid portion and a flexible portion. Additionally, the magnetic shieldmay be composed of varying material compositions. Examples of materialsmay include, but are not limited to, zinc comprising ferrite materialssuch as manganese-zinc, nickel-zinc, copper-zinc, magnesium-zinc, andcombinations thereof.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series ofitems, with the term “and” or “or” to separate any of the items,modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e.,each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection ofat least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows a meaningthat includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least oneof any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of theitems. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or“at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C;any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, andC.

The predicate words “configured to”, “operable to”, and “programmed to”do not imply any particular tangible or intangible modification of asubject, but, rather, are intended to be used interchangeably. In one ormore embodiments, a processor configured to monitor and control anoperation or a component may also mean the processor being programmed tomonitor and control the operation or the processor being operable tomonitor and control the operation. Likewise, a processor configured toexecute code can be construed as a processor programmed to execute codeor operable to execute code.

A phrase such as “an aspect” does not imply that such aspect isessential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to allconfigurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to anaspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations.An aspect may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrasesuch as an “aspect” may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. Aphrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment isessential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies toall configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating toan embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments.An embodiment may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. Aphrase such an “embodiment” may refer to one or more embodiments andvice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that suchconfiguration is essential to the subject technology or that suchconfiguration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Adisclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations,or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or moreexamples of the disclosure. A phrase such as a “configuration” may referto one or more configurations and vice versa.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” or as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Furthermore, to theextent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in thedescription or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in amanner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted whenemployed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extentthat the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the descriptionor the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similarto the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as atransitional word in a claim.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousaspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expresslyincorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed bythe claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construedunder the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in thecase of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “stepfor.”

Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one andonly one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.”Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one ormore. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine andneuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings andsubheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit thesubject disclosure.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but ratheras descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter.Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in asingle embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described inthe context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a sub combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular wireless power transfer systemcomprising: a first wireless transmission system, the first wirelesstransmission system configured to receive input power from an inputpower source and generate AC wireless signals based, at least in part,on the input power, the AC wireless signals including wireless powersignals and wireless data signals, the first wireless transmissionsystem including a first transmission antenna configured to couple withone or more other antennas; and one or more secondary wirelesstransmission systems, each of the one or more secondary wirelesstransmission systems including a secondary transmission antenna, thesecondary transmission antenna configured to couple with one or more ofanother secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna,one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof, the one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems configured to receive the ACwireless signals from one or more of the first wireless transmissionsystem, another secondary wireless transmission system, or combinationsthereof, and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more of thesecondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiver antennas, orcombinations thereof.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising awireless receiver system, the wireless receiver system configured toreceive the AC wireless signals to provide electrical power to a loadoperatively associated with the wireless receiver system, the wirelessreceiver system including one of the one or more receiver antennas, theone or more receiver antennas each configured to couple with one or moreof the first wireless transmission system, the one or more secondarywireless transmission systems, or combinations thereof.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein one or more of the first wireless transmission system,the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems, or combinationsthereof are configured to directly power an electronic deviceoperatively associated with the wireless receiver system.
 4. The systemof claim 2, wherein one or more of the first wireless transmissionsystem, the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems, orcombinations thereof are configured to provide electrical power to aload of an electronic device operatively associated with the wirelessreceiver system, wherein the load is an electrical energy storagedevice.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wirelesstransmission system further includes a first transmission controllerconfigured to provide first driving signals for driving the firsttransmission antenna, and a first power conditioning system configuredto receive the driving signals and generate the AC wireless signalsbased, at least in part, on the first driving signal, and wherein atleast one of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systemsfurther includes a second transmission controller configured to providesecond driving signals for driving the secondary transmission antenna,and a second power conditioning system configured to receive the seconddriving signals and generate second AC wireless signals based, at leastin part, on the second driving signal.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein, when the at least one of the one or more secondary wirelesstransmission systems is configured to repeat the AC wireless signals,the second transmission controller and the second power conditioningsystem are bypassed in a signal path for the AC wireless signals.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmission systemfurther includes a first transmission controller configured to providefirst driving signals for driving the first transmission antenna, and afirst power conditioning system configured to receive the drivingsignals and generate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, onthe first driving signal, and a first transmission tuning systemoperatively associated with the first transmission antenna, and whereinat least one of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systemsfurther includes a second transmission tuning system operativelyassociated with the secondary transmission antenna.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the first transmission tuning system is configured tofilter the AC wireless signals to generate filtered AC wireless signals,and the second transmission tuning system is configured to furtherfilter the filtered AC wireless signals to generate twice-filtered ACwireless signals.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising ademodulation circuit configured to receive communications signals from awireless receiver system and decode the communications signals bydetermining a rate of change in electrical characteristics of thecommunications signals.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstwireless transmission system further includes a repeater tuning systemconfigured to tune a portion of the first antenna to function as arepeater for the AC wireless signals.
 11. The system of claim 1, whereinat least one of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systemsfurther includes a repeater tuning system configured to tune thesecondary transmission antenna to function as a repeater for the ACwireless signals.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the secondarytransmission antenna includes a first antenna portion and a secondantenna portion, and the repeater tuning system is configured to tunethe secondary transmission antenna such that the first antenna portionis configured to receive the AC wireless signals from the firsttransmission antenna and one or more of the first antenna portion, thesecond antenna portion or combinations thereof are configured to repeatthe AC wireless signals.
 13. The wireless transmission system of claim1, wherein each of the first transmission antenna and the secondtransmission antenna are configured to operate based on an operatingfrequency of about 6.78 MHz.
 14. A modular wireless transmission systemfor transmitting AC wireless signals, the AC wireless signals includingwireless power signals and wireless data signals, the wirelesstransmission system comprising: a transmission controller configured toprovide first driving signals for driving the first transmissionantenna; a power conditioning system configured to receive the drivingsignals receive input power from an input power source, and generate theAC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the first driving signaland the input power source; and a first transmission antenna configuredfor coupling with one or more other antennas, the first transmissionantenna configured to transmit the AC wireless signals to the one ormore other antennas, receive the AC wireless signals from one or moreother antennas, and repeat the AC wireless signals to the one or moreother antennas.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmissionantenna includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion,the second antenna portion is configured to receive the AC wirelesssignals from one or more other antennas.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein one or more of the first antenna portion, the second antennaportion, or combinations thereof are configured to repeat the ACwireless signals to the one or more other antennas.
 17. The system ofclaim 15, further comprising a repeater tuning system configured to tuneone or more portion of the transmission antenna to repeat the ACwireless signals.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein, when the wirelesstransmission system is configured to repeat the AC wireless signals, thetransmission controller and the power conditioning system are bypassedin a signal path for the AC wireless signals.
 19. The system of claim14, wherein the first transmission antenna is configured to operatebased on an operating frequency of about 6.78 MHz.
 20. A modularwireless power transfer system configured to operate based on anoperating frequency of about 6.78 MHz, the system comprising: a firstwireless transmission system, the first wireless transmission systemconfigured to receive input power from an input power source andgenerate AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the inputpower, the AC wireless signals including wireless power signals andwireless data signals, the first wireless transmission system includinga first transmission antenna configured to couple with one or more otherantennas and operate based on the operating frequency; and one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems, each of the one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems including a secondarytransmission antenna, the secondary transmission antenna configured tooperate based on the operating frequency and couple with one or more ofanother secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna,one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof, the one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems configured to receive the ACwireless signals from one or more of the first wireless transmissionsystem, another secondary wireless transmission system, or combinationsthereof, and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more of thesecondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiver antennas, orcombinations thereof; and a wireless receiver system, the wirelessreceiver system configured to receive the AC wireless signals to provideelectrical power to a load operatively associated with the wirelessreceiver system, the wireless receiver system including one of the oneor more receiver antennas, the one or more receiver antennas eachconfigured to operate at the operating frequency and couple with one ormore of the first wireless transmission system, the one or moresecondary wireless transmission systems, or combinations thereof.